Claiming Housing Benefit.
You can work out how much Council Tax or Housing Benefit you may be entitled to by using the Derby City Council online benefits calculator. All you need to do is answer a few questions and the calculator will work out the amount of Benefit you may get if you apply.
Derby City Council Online Benefits Calculator
Please remember that this calculation will be an estimate based on the information you supply.
To claim Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit you must apply in writing. For more Information visit
Derby City Council How to claim Benefit Section.
Changes to the way Housing Benefit and Council Tax benefit are calculated
Important news for families with children and the over 60s
Recent changes will mean some people will get more Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, and some who don’t currently qualify for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit may be now be entitled when they make a claim.
Do you have children?
Benefit laws have changed - if you receive Child Benefit, you may now be able to claim some extra help with your rent or council tax. From November onwards, Child Benefit is no longer be counted as income when your Housing or Council Tax Benefit is calculated. This means that many families who have previously not qualified for Housing or Council Tax Benefit could now get some help towards paying their rent or council tax.
For example, a family receiving child benefit for four children will now have £59.60 a week ignored from their Housing or Council Tax Benefit calculation. As a result, families or lone parents with children are more likely to qualify for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. If you already receive Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit you don’t need to do anything as your benefit will be changed automatically.
Are you over the age of 60?
Changes have also been introduced to help the over 60s. The way savings are treated in working out Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit has changed. Previously, any savings up to £6,000 were not counted in the assessment. From 2 November 2009 this amount increased to £10,000. This means that some pensioners will see an increase in their Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, and some pensioners who aren’t currently entitled to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit will now qualify under the new rules. Again, if you’re already claiming, you don’t need to do anything as your benefits will be adjusted automatically. However, if you’re not already getting help with your rent or council tax, you could be eligible. The rules have not changed about the upper limit for savings – people with more than £16,000 in savings will still not qualify.
Phil Davies, Derby Homes’ Chief Executive, said: “The Benefits Team at Derby City Council are communicating this message widely across the city. They’ve asked us to include information about the changes on our website to make absolutely sure that our tenants are aware of what help is available to them.”
What happens next?
• If you already get Council Tax or Housing Benefit and you are affected by these changes your claim will automatically be readjusted from 2 November 2009.
• If you aren’t currently getting Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit and think you should now apply, please get in touch with Derby Benefits and they will help you make a claim.
Contacting Derby Benefits
The Derby Benefits team are based in the Council House on Corporation Street. Their reception area is on the ground floor, next to the payment counters and is open:
Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 4.30pm, and Fridays 8.30am to 4.00pm
You can also take your claim form, or report any changes in your circumstances, to your nearest housing office. You can also make an enquiry by phone any time between 8.30am and 5.00pm on Monday to Thursday, and between 8.30am and 4.30pm on a Friday. Phone numbers are:
01332 255122 - Derby Direct Benefit enquiries
01332 255116 – Benefit enquiries textphone
01332 255138 - Board and Lodge only
Or write to:
Derby Benefits, PO Box 1, Council House, Corporation Street, Derby, DE1 2FE
Or email enquiry.benefits@derby.gov.uk
You can find out more about Council Tax Benefit on the Derby City Council web site at www.derby.gov.uk. There’s even a calculator that will work out how much Council Tax Benefit you may be entitled to. All you need to do is answer a few questions and the calculator will give you an estimate of Council Tax Benefit you may get when you apply. It will also calculate Housing Benefit if you pay rent. You can find the calculator on Derby City Council’s web site, or you can go straight to the calculator at www.derby.gov.uk/benefitscalculator.