Claim Housing Benefit or check if you're entitled

You can no longer make a new claim for Housing Benefit in St Helens unless:

• You live in supported/sheltered accommodation (this is accommodation where your landlord provides you with care support or supervision)
• You live in temporary accommodation (for example, because you are homeless)
• You and your partner (if you have one) have both reached State Pension Credit age.

If you cannot claim Housing Benefit, you will need to claim your housing costs from Universal Credit. Your housing costs will be paid to you by the Department for Work and Pensions, along with other money to cover your basic living expenses. Claims for Universal Credit must be made online at GOV.UK. 

Help with paying Council Tax if you have applied or are receiving Universal Credit

If you are liable for Council Tax, help towards paying this is not included in your Universal Credit payment. You will need to apply for a Council Tax Reduction.

Apply for a Council Tax Reduction

You can continue to make a claim for Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Reduction if:

• You live in supported/sheltered accommodation 
• You live in temporary accommodation 
• You and your partner (if you have one) have both reached State Pension Credit age
• You are not affected by the Universal Credit rules.

A claim for Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Reduction can be made by completing our claim form.

Apply for Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Reduction

If, after making a claim, your circumstances change or you become temporarily absent from your home for more than four weeks, you must tell us straight away - contact us on 01744 676789. 

If you need to make a claim for pension credit, you can contact the Pension Service on 0800 99 1234.

Information we'll need

Before we can pay you housing benefit, you will need to provide the following information along with your claim form:

• proof of your identity and, if you have a partner, proof of their identity too
• proof that you have a National Insurance number and, if you have a partner, for them too
• proof of all income you and your partner, if you have one, receive
• proof of all income for anyone else who lives with you. This includes your children, your grown up son or daughter or other relative or friend
• proof of any savings, investments, stocks, shares or other capital held by you, your partner or your children. This includes banks and building societies
• proof of your rent