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Council tax benefit

Entitlement to Council Tax Benefit

Anyone who is liable for Council Tax can claim Council Tax Benefit:

You can live in a:

• Privately rented or Housing Association accommodation,
• House you are buying or have already bought.

How much can you claim

The amount you receive will be calculated based on the following:

• Money you and your partner have coming in, including earnings, benefits, tax credits, and pensions.
• You and your partner’s capital, savings and investments.
• Your circumstances, such as your age, the number of people in your household and the ages of your children; whether you or any of your household are disabled.

Second Adult Rebate

Second Adult Rebate is help with your Council Tax bill if you share your home with one or more adults.

To qualify for Second Adult Rebate is the person who shares with you:

• Aged 18 or over?
• Not your partner?
• Not paying you rent?
• Not liable to pay Council Tax themselves?

If all four of the above criteria apply to your circumstances, then you may qualify for Second Adult Rebate.

Second Adult Rebate is based on the circumstances of the person who shares your home. Your income and savings will not have an effect on Second Adult Rebate. If you are entitled to Council Tax Benefit and Second Adult Rebate we will pay the one that gives you the most money.

The documents you need to provide

When you make a claim for Council Tax Benefit we always need to see original documents for you, your partner and any other people who live in your household. Copies will not be accepted. Documents can be brought to any of our offices or can be posted to the Benefits Assessment Unit (PO Box 660, Halifax, HX1 1ZT). Any documents posted to the Council will be returned by second-class post. However the Benefits Assessment Unit will not accept responsibility for the loss of any documents sent by post. It is therefore recommended that you bring any valuable documents to one of our offices.

In order to process your claim for Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit we will need to see the following:

• Evidence of identity for both you and your partner.
• Evidence of the National Insurance Number for you and your partner.
• Evidence of all income for both you and your partner and any other people who live in your household.
• Evidence of all capital (for example all bank, building society and post office accounts, investments, cash, property, etc.) for you and your partner.

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