The Council offers advice and can represent you at an appeal hearing involving a wide range of benefits which are designed to assist individuals or households who are least able to pay for services.
| Money Advice | Council Tax benefit | Housing Benefit | Free School Meals |
| School Clothing Grants | Education Maintenance Allowance | Free Music Tuition |
| High Life Card | Plus One Scheme - Carer Goes Free | Blue Badge |
| Travel Card | Energy Advice |
Council Tax
If you are liable to pay council tax and are on a low income, you may get council tax benefit to help pay your council tax.
If you are liable to pay council tax and live in the house on your own, you automatically qualify for a single occupancy discount.
If you are disabled and have to have certain accommodation available you may qualify for a discount. Certain groups of people are exempted from for council tax e.g. those with severe mental impairment, students and certain carers
If you are liable to pay council tax and have another adult living in your home on low income (but not a partner or paying lodger), you may get help even if you don't qualify for main council tax benefit. This is called second adult rebate.
An application form for council tax benefit is available from any of the Council's Service Points or online. Please return your completed application form and all the necessary evidence to one of our designated offices. Click here for a list of all our designated offices.
If you are liable to pay rent and are on a low income, you may get Housing Benefit to help pay your rent. Discretionary housing payments may also be available to those in severe financial hardship.
If you would like to quickly check your potential entitlement to benefit, please click on this link which will take you to an externally hosted Benefit Calculator. Please note, the results should be used for indicative purposes only and do not bind The Council or The Department for Work and Pensions in any way.
If you would like us to check your potential entitlement to benefits, please click on the following link to download a benefits questionnaire. Please note, our calculations will be estimates only and will be based entirely on the information that you have provided. If you provide inaccurate or incomplete information, this will inevitably lead to incorrect estimates. Click here to download the form
A Housing Benefit Claim form is available from any of the Council's Service Points or online. Please return your completed application form and all the necessary evidence to one of our designated offices. Click here for a list of all our designated offices.
Housing Benefit leaflets are available in a number of alternative languages by clicking on the following link; http://www.benefit-leaflets.org/leaflets.asp.
Free School Meals
Free school meals are available to children of families who are in receipt of Income Support, Income Based Job Seekers Allowance or Child Tax Credit subject to income level and employment status.
Parents of children who are eligible to apply for free school meals must submit a Free Meals Application Form which is available from your local school, Area Education Office or Service Points or alternatively see 'related information'.
School Clothing Grants
Assistance is provided by the Council towards the cost of Footwear and School Clothing to families in receipt of Income Support, Income Based Job Seekers Allowance, Widowed Parent's Allowance or Child Tax Credit subject to income level. An application is available from your local school, Area Education Office or Service Points or alternatively see 'related information'.
Education Maintenance Allowance
For more information regarding Education Maintenance Allowance please click here.
The Council charges £30 per term for music tuition payable in advance, with some exceptions. If the pupil is in receipt of free school meals/clothing grant there is no charge.
High Life Card
The Council has developed a High Life card that offers special benefits for those wishing to use Council leisure facilities including people looking for work, senior citizens, any one in full time education and family groups. If you are on Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance (income based) with a High Life card you pay just 50p per activity. For further information see 'related information'.
Lochaber area of Highland Council offers a membership and leisure access scheme which complements the High Life programme, named the Lochaber Leisure Card. This membership scheme is supported by a range of concessionary access prices for all (further information available from Lochaber Leisure Centre 01397 704359).
Plus One Scheme - Carer Goes Free
Some people require a care/attendant with them when they access Culture and Leisure facilities. People who register for the scheme and meet the criteria as laid out in the leaflet will be given a Plus One Card. This will enable them to gain free access for their carer at participating venues. The cardholder will pay the normal rate of entry for themselves.
The Council is responsible for the issue of Blue Badge parking permits to residents whose mobility is severely and permanently impaired. Blue Badges allow residents who are unable to walk great distances, to park in restricted areas.
Travel Card (age and disability)
Reduced travel costs on buses, trains and ferries is available to pensioners, disabled individuals and in some instances their travelling companions. Travel card application forms for Older Persons or Disabled Persons scheme are available from Service Points or Post Offices and for the Young Persons scheme at Service Points and schools.
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