Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are worked out and paid
by local authorities. Other welfare benefits are paid through other
agencies. For example the Job Centre Plus deals with Income
Support; H.M. Revenues and Customs with Child Tax Credit and the
Pension Service with Retirement Pension and Pension Credit.
In Bath & North East Somerset, the service which deals with
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit and works out how much
benefit you are entitled to is called Revenues & Benefits.
The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) Scheme is the new way of
assessing and paying Housing Benefit to people renting in the
private sector. The new scheme started on the 7th of April 2008. To
find out more read our
LHA pages.
If you want to work out how much benefit you might get you can
use the benefits calculator. (Remember that this
calculation is an estimate based on the information you supply
and should be used as a rough guide only.)
For a full evaluation, you will need to fill in a form giving us
details of who lives in your home, how much income and savings you
have, and how much rent you pay. You will also need to supply proof
of any income or savings details that you put on your form. If the
necessary evidence cannot be supplied when the application is
submitted, applicants will have a maximum of one calendar month to
provide it. Full details of what is needed are given on the
form.
If you would like to download a benefit application
form, please use the link below:
http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/BathNES/advicebenefits/benefits/onlineforms.htm
Information about the benefits you are entitled to receive and
the service we provide can be found on the links below.
Personal enquiries for Council Tax and Housing Benefit
claims can be made at any Council Connect local office.
We have set up a service to provide you
with access to information 24 hours a day, 356 days a year.
The Automated Telephone Information Service gives you instant
access to information about Council Tax, Housing Benefits and
Council Tax Benefits and the facility to order various forms. The
lines are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Call 01225 39 49 59
This is an automated service, however in order to help you get
to the information you are most interested as quickly as possible,
we have set up "hot keys" - a number you can press on your
telephone that by-passes some of the menu
options straight to the pertinent options - that can be used
only during the introduction to the service. Hot keys can be
found for information about:
Hot Key Numbers
Benefit
enquiries
HOT KEY 7 - To request a benefit
application form be sent to you.
HOT KEY 8 - To request a ‘Change in
Circumstance’ form be sent to you.
HOT KEY 9 - You disagree with a decision
we have made and you want us to look at your claim
again or you wish to appeal.
Council Tax
enquiries
HOT KEY 1 - General information on Council Tax
Setting this year’s Council Tax amount and where your money is
spent.
HOT KEY 2 - Valuation Bands, Student
Exemptions, Exempt dwellings, Discounts (including single person’s
allowance) and disabilities. What to do if you think your bill is
wrong. How to obtain an explanation of your Council Tax bill.
HOT KEY 3 - Moving in or out of a property.
Applying for a discount including single person’s allowance.
Advising us of a change in your circumstances. Applying for an
exemption for an empty property
HOT KEY 4 - Make a payment by debit or credit
card. Set up a Direct Debit. General advice on payment.
HOT KEY 5 - Help if you are having difficulties
paying your bill.
HOT KEY 6 - If you have received a
reminder letter, summons or notice of a bailiff
visit.
Business Rates
enquiries
HOT KEY 0 - To access the helpline for
Business Rates enquiries
