There are three ways to claim, the first two apply if you are also making a new claim for other benefits:

If you are claiming income support / jobseekers allowance

The Jobcentre Plus will complete a form with you and send it electronically to us. You can also apply directly by picking up one of our claim packs from our office or we can post one to you. Alternatively you can download the pack below (there are several parts to the pack and you need to print and complete them all). You may need to provide us with proof of your identity, income and savings.

If you are claiming pension credit

Fill in the HCTB1 form you get with your form for pension credit and return this form to the Benefits Section. You will need to provide us with proof of your identity.

You can also apply directly by picking up one of our claim packs from our office or we can post one to you. Alternatively you can download the pack below (there are several parts to the pack and you need to print and complete them all). You may need to provide us with proof of your identity, income and savings.

If you are not making a new claim for income support / jobseekers allowance / pension credit

Call (01904) 551556 to make a claim.

Alternatively you can pick up a claim pack from our office or we can post one to you, or you can download the claim pack from this page (there are several parts to the pack, including an application form, and you need to print and complete them all). You will need to provide us with proof of your identity, income and savings.

Housing benefit is normally paid from the Monday after a written claim is received by the council's benefits service. If you delay returning a claim form you have downloaded or received following a phone call you risk losing benefit. You may wish to write a letter requesting benefit so as to ensure a written claim is made promptly.

If you are aged 60 or over we are often able to pay you benefit for the 52 weeks before you make a claim. You must provide full details and proof of your circumstances for the past period.

If you are aged under 60 we may be able to backdate your claim if we decide you have a good reason for claiming late. Use Part 17 of your form to explain why you have not claimed earlier and the date from which you wish to claim from. Alternatively you can send this information to us in a letter. You must provide full details and proof of your circumstances for the past period.

If you live with a partner you should make one claim for both of you. It does not matter which of you claim unless one of you is a student or has been continuously sick for 52 weeks or more (or 28 weeks or more if you are terminally ill).

Housing benefit is sometimes awarded for a limited period. You may have to re-apply for benefit to continue. If you do not then your housing benefit stops. We can help you to complete any new forms.