The Exchequer Section runs three Benefit Schemes on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). They are:
Council Tax Benefit - 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. Please note this does not currently cover any water or wastewater charges. However, a transitional relief scheme to reduce the amount of water and sewerage charges that Council Tax Benefit recipients have to pay was implemented on 1 April 2006.
Second Adult Rebate - 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 may be up to 25% reduction in your Council Tax.
Housing Benefit - If you are liable to pay rent and are on a low income, you may get Housing Benefit to help pay your rent. You can pick up a Housing Benefit Claim form at any of the Council's Service Points, Housing & Property Services Offices or in the Current Documents section of the right hand side of this page.
You should only make one application for benefit which will be processed on your joint resources if you are:
- a married couple living together, or
- a man and a woman, or civil partners, living together as if you are married.
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. Click here to be redirected
For information on backdating benefit please click here or click the link at the top right hand side of this page.
Local Housing Allowance - Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is the new way of working out the maximum Housing Benefit you could get. The amount you will get will still depend on your income and savings. It is only the way that we work out the maximum Housing Benefit you could get that is changing. More details of LHA and the indicative levels are on our website. Please see the links near the top right hand side of this page for more details. View the current LHA figures
If you are thinking of renting accommodation from a private landlord (not the Council) and you are likely to need help from Housing Benefit to pay your rent, you can find out how much of that rent will be used to work out your Housing Benefit before you decide to rent the property. This is called a Pre-Tenancy Determination.
In addition to these schemes the Highland Council has a cash-limited fund to help our customers meet some housing costs. If you need financial help to pay your rent and/or Council Tax and you are in receipt of Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit you may be eligible for a Discretionary Housing Payment.
Forms - Any of the above forms can be downloaded using the relevant link in the Current Documents section on the right hand side of this page. These forms are also available from Council Service Points. Please return completed forms to Operations Team, PO Box 5650, Inverness, IV3 5YX.
The Council Tax Benefit, Second Adult Rebate and Housing Benefit Application Form can also be downloaded here.
The Discretionary Housing Payment Form can also be downloaded here.
The Pre-Tenancy Determination Form can also be downloaded here.
Information Leaflets - We also provide information leaflets on Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. These are available at Council Service Points or you can download them from the Current Documents section on the right hand side of this page.
Housing Benefit leaflets are available in a number of alternative languages by clicking on the following link; http://www.benefit-leaflets.org/leaflets.asp.
For further information please contact your local office.