You can claim Housing Benefit if you pay rent to a housing association, private landlord or your local council.

• How much am I entitled to? (Benefit calculator)

• Housing Benefit Application Form

• Renting from a private landlord - Local Housing Allowance (LHA)

The easiest way to claim is via our online application .

• Supporting documents for your claim

• Housing Benefit payment dates

• Universal Credit

If you're receiving housing benefit and your circumstances change 

How to tell us about a change 

You need to contact us and provide proof of the change by emailing benefits@southkesteven.gov.uk or by calling 01476 406080.

Alternatively you can notify us by writing to:
South Kesteven District Council,
Council Offices, The Picture House,
St Catherine's Road,
Grantham NG31 6TT

Who can apply ?

You can apply for council tax support if you own your home, rent, are unemployed or working.

You may get council tax support if you

•   live at the property

•   pay council tax; and

•   have a low income, or are entitled to a benefit paid by the Department for Work and Pensions or the Pension Service

When should you apply?

It is important that you contact us as soon as you think you may be entitled to help, if you delay you may lose out.

•    Council Tax Support Application Form

You cannot claim council tax support if you:

•   are not the householder, or the person responsible to pay council tax

•   have more than £16,000 in savings, unless you receive guaranteed Pension Credit

•   excluded from receiving public funds, due to your status in the UK

For council tax support, pension age means anyone who has reached the qualifying age for State Pension. 

Full-time students can't usually get council tax support, but may be eligible for a student discount which will be deducted from your council tax liability. 

Claiming Council Tax Support

The quickest way to claim Council Tax Support is via our online application at the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction Application Form.

If further information or evidence is required we will advise you.

When your award would start?

We can normally only start your award from the Monday following the date we receive your application. We can treat your application as being made from the date you contact us to request a new claim.

If you are entitled to council tax support, we will send you a revised, reduced council tax bill.

How much could I receive?

•   Residents who are of state pension age are eligible to receive a maximum of 100% support towards their council tax bill.

•   Working age residents will receive a maximum of 80% support towards their council tax bill.

•   If you or a member of your household are considered disabled, are in receipt of carers allowance or in receipt of a war disability or war widow's pension, you will be eligible for help with paying up to 100% of your weekly council tax charge

If you're receiving council tax support and your circumstances change 

How to tell us about a change 

You can report a change at http://www.southkesteven.gov.uk/tellus

What you need to tell us about 

You need to tell us straight away about any change that could affect your council tax support.

You must tell us even if you have told another agency, for example the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or the Pension Service.

Below are some of the common changes you need to tell us about.

Changes to income / capital / savings 

•   Changes in wages, maintenance, works pensions, tax credits, benefits etc.

•   If any sort of income starts or stops.

•   Your capital increases above, or decreases below £6,000 (working age customers) or £10,000 (pension age customers)

You may get extended payments of council tax support if you start work or increase your hours.

Changes to household 

•   If anyone comes to stay with you or moves out, including people who go into hospital or prison.

•   If anyone who lives with you starts or stops work.

•   If there is any change in the income of someone who lives with you.

•   If you have a new baby.

•   If a child or young person leaves school

If you move 

•   If you move home.

•   If you will be away from home for more than four weeks.

•   If you go into hospital or a nursing home

Other changes 

•   If you stop receiving Child Benefit.

•   Changes to the amount of childcare you pay.

•   If you become a student or finish your course.

These are not full lists. If you're not sure, tell us about a change anyway and we will let you know if it affects your council tax support.

Who can get extended payments of council tax support?

To get extended payments of council tax support, you or your partner must

•   be starting work or increasing your hours; and

•   expect your new work or increased hours to last for five weeks or more; and

•   have had an entitlement to Jobseeker's Allowance (income-based or contribution-based), Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance, or Severe Disablement Allowance for a continuous period of 26 weeks or more.

Extended payments of council tax support are automatically given to you if you are eligible, you don't need to apply for them.  We will give you four weeks council tax support at the same rate as before you started work or increased your hours.

If you disagree with our decision about your council tax support 

When you apply for council tax support, we give you a decision in writing about your application. If you disagree with our decision, you can ask us to look at it again.

If you ask us to look at our decision again and we decide that it is correct, you must then appeal directly to the Valuation Tribunal Service if you still disagree.

You can appeal directly to the Valuation Tribunal Service if we have not replied to your dispute within two months.

You can't appeal against a council tax support decision without first asking us to look at the decision again.

You must be the person who has applied for council tax support to do either of these.

Extra support - discretionary payments 

If you are having difficulty paying your council tax you may be able to receive additional support.

Our Discretionary Payment scheme allows us to make additional payments to people who receive Council Tax Support, who appear to need further help with council tax payments.

Any award is not intended to be long term ongoing payments. They are awarded on a short term basis while you take action to improve your circumstances.

You can apply at http://www.southkesteven.gov.uk/DHP

COUNCIL TAX SUPPORT RULES PDF

 Council Tax Support Rules 2023 [1Mb]

 Council Tax Support Rules 2022 [1Mb]

 Council Tax Support Rules 2021 [1Mb]

 Council Tax Support Rules 2020 [1Mb]

 Council Tax Support Rules 2019-20 [901kb]

 Council Tax Support Rules 2018 [1Mb]

 Council Tax Support Rules 2017 [1Mb]

 Council Tax Support Rules 2016-17 [1Mb]

 Council Tax Support Rules 2015-16 [1Mb]

You can claim Second Adult Rebate if you are the only person in your home who is liable to pay council tax, but there is at least one other person aged 18 or over, who is not your partner, and is not a joint tenant. The Second Adult Rebate calculation is based on their income, not yours.

The easiest way to claim Second Adult Rebate is via our online application form.

South Kesteven District Council  is currently considering how it can fund the Council Tax Support (CTS) scheme from April 2024. 

Before any decisions are taken, we would like to know what you think of the current scheme and the proposed changes.

• If you are a pensioner or in a vulnerable group you will not be affected by these changes. However, as you currently get Council Tax Support, we value your views
• Before approving a scheme, South Kesteven District Council are required to consult with members of the general public that are likely to have an interest in the operation of the scheme.

When does the Consultation Period Start and End?

• The consultation period starts on 1 September 2023and ends on 13 October 2023.
• Councillors will decide the final shape of the Council Tax Support scheme for 2024/25when they meet in January 2024.

Your Feedback Matters

We want to hear the views from our residents on whether they get Council Tax Support or not to ensure we make an informed decision.

If you would like to tell us about your views on our proposed Council Tax Support scheme, please complete our online survey.