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• Housing benefit, council tax and other benefits

Housing benefit, council tax and other benefits

Housing costs (rent and council tax) are a large part of most people's expenses. They can be difficult to manage for people on low incomes. Westminster City Council and Capita provide a benefits service to help people meet these costs.

Applying for housing benefit

Housing benefit is a means tested benefit to help people on low incomes to pay their rent. An estimate of benefit entitlement can be made using the web benefit calculator.

Housing benefit cannot pay for any water rates, heating and hot water charges, or charges for garages, sheds or parking spaces that may be included in a tenant’s rent.

The benefits service can be contacted directly on freephone 0800 072 0042, fax 020 7641 3087 or minicom 020 76416020.

Changes to your circumstances

It is very important that the benefits service is advised of any claimants change in circumstances because it may affect the amount they receive. If they are not told straight away, they may end up overpaying and they will claim this money back.

Maximising benefit

All our new tenants are offered a welfare benefits interview to find out if they are receiving all the benefits they are entitled to. 

Existing tenants can also look at their benefit entitlement - see the Department of Works and Pensions website or call the housing benefit office on 0800 072 0042 for general advice.

Additional financial help

The council has a limited fund from which it can make Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs). DHPs can be made to people who receive housing benefit but who need extra help with their housing costs. In Westminster, these payments are administered by the benefits service who will consider each request on an individual basis. You can use the online application form from Westminster Council's website or collect one from the benefits service or at any One Stop Shop.

Requesting backdated housing benefit

You can submit a backdated housing benefit request if you have a very good reason. It needs to be submitted within

• three months for those who are of Pension Credit age (over 60)*
• six months for those who are of working age (up to 60)

*Men aged 60-64 are considered to be of working age but are also entitled to Pension Credit. Men aged 60-64 who are in receipt of Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance will be given a six month time limit for submitting backdating claims. For men aged 60-64 who are in receipt of Pension Credit and who have no partner in receipt of Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, the three month time limit applies.