About Your Benefits

• How much rent do I have to pay now I have Housing Benefit?
• What do I do if you have made a mistake on my benefit claim?
• How do I cancel my Benefit claim?
• Why is my Benefit claim suspended?
• I have not received my Housing Benefit cheque
• Why have I received a Benefit Review Form?
• What changes do I need to tell you about?
• Can I discuss my Benefits in private?

 

How Much Rent Do I Have To Pay Now I Have Housing Benefit?

You will receive award letters telling you how much benefit you are entitled to.

You need to deduct the benefit award from the actual amount of rent the landlord charges you and this will leave the amount you will need to contribute towards the rent.

Please be aware that we don't pay towards some services that are sometimes charged with your rent such as water and electricity.

 

What Do I Do If You Have Made A Mistake On My Benefit Claim?

If you have received a decision about Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit you may need to know what you can do if you think it is wrong.

If you think the decision is wrong you can ask us to explain it, if you still think it is wrong after we have explained it to you we will look at it again.

For some decisions you can appeal to an independent tribunal who can change the decision if they think it is wrong.

There are time limits for asking for a decision to be looked at again and for appealing. 

 

How Do I Cancel My Benefit Claim?

If you want to cancel your claim you will need to let us know in writing. 

You must state the date you want us to cancel the claim from and reasons why you want us to cancel it.

 

Why Is My Benefit Claim Suspended?

Benefit is usually suspended following a change in your income or a change of address or if you haven't provided enough information for us to process your claim.

We suspend claims to avoid any possibility of overpaying benefit, which you would then have to pay back to us.

We might need to send you a form to gather your new income details or your new address details. Please provide this information within a month of the date of us asking.

We will then make any changes to your claim and tell you about your new benefit.

If we have not received the information within one calendar month of us asking for it we may cancel your claim from the Monday after the claim was suspended or from an earlier date if applicable.

 

I Have Not Received My Housing Benefit Cheque

If you have not received your Housing Benefit cheque please telephone us on the telephone number below or complete the Lost Cheque Form.

We will:

• stop the cheque to make sure no one else tries to cash it.
• replace your cheque, which may take up to 10 working days.

If you would like us to pay your benefit direct into your bank account please complete the BACS Payment Form available from the  form and leaflet download page

 

 

Why Have I Received A Benefit Review Form?

We review your benefit entitlement to make sure we have the right information so that we pay you the correct amount of benefit.

We will either:

• send you out a review form which you need to return to us with proof of your income and savings
• come and visit you in your home to check the information is correct
• or we will telephone you

 

 

What Changes Do I Need To Tell You About?

Change of circumstance

If you are currently claiming Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax benefit, you must tell us, in writing, within 1 month of any change in the personal or financial circumstances of you or any person within your household. To do this simply complete the Change in Circumstances Form available from the form and leaflet download page Where your benefit entitlement does change, you will receive notification within 14 days.

Examples of the types of changes that will affect your entitlement to benefit:

• Changes in the type or amount of income for anyone in your household. This includes earnings, pensions and state benefits;
• Changes in the amount of savings you have;
• If you stop getting Income Support /Job Seeker's Allowance;
• If you move house;
• If someone leaves your household or comes to live with you;
• If you have a child that leaves school;
• If you are a private tenant and rent is increased or reduced
• If you or your partner are in hospital for 6 weeks or more;
• Anything else that you think could affect your benefit

Failure to report any changes that you are aware of that may affect entitlement could lead to prosecution.

Can I Discuss My Benefits In Private?

If you want to discuss your benefits in private with a member of our staff please contact us at the telephone number below, between 8.30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

We can make you a private appointment with a member of our Customer Centre team.

Should you need further information about anything on this page please contact us at:

Benefits Section
Customer Services
Chester City Council
The Forum
Chester
CH1 2HS
Telephone: 01244 402236
Email: benefits@chester.gov.uk.