Do you need to be unemployed to apply for housing benefit?
Housing benefit is a means-tested benefit, so what matters is how much money you have coming in, rather than whether or not you are employed. If you are unemployed, or are on a low wage, you may be entitled to housing benefit. To find out whether you may qualify, please use the Benefits Calculator.
I have lost my job and can't pay my Council Tax. What should I do?
You may be able to claim housing and council tax benefit. To find out whether you may qualify, please use the Benefits Calculator.
I have recently started work in a fairly low paid job. Can I still apply for benefits even though I don't have the amount of payslips needed to process my claim?
Yes, you can still apply for benefits, but you should apply as soon as possible as any delay may mean a loss of benefit.
You should include a statement to the effect that you have only recently started work (please give the exact start date) and will provide payslips as soon as they become available.
Meanwhile, you should also provide as soon as possible either:
- all of the pages of your contract of employment
- a fully completed Certificate of Earnings Form or
- a letter from your employer on headed paper showing how much you will be earning.
The Certificate of Earnings Form must be completed by your employer, not you. The Form must provide actual Earnings figures or estimated / Forecasted future earnings. The pay periods will depend on how you are paid. If you receive your wage slips:
- Weekly - your employer will need to ensure that five consecutive weekly figures are provided
- Fortnightly - your employer will need to ensure that three consecutive fortnightly figures are provided
- Monthly - your employer will need to ensure that two consecutive monthly figures are provided
The employer must use their Employer's Stamp if they have one available to use. They will also need to ensure that the form is signed and dated.
I've recently become self-employed and don't have business accounts. Can I still apply for Housing Benefit?
Benefits may be awarded if you can complete a "Self Employed Income and Expenditure" Form. You may need to provide evidence of your takings / income and expenses. Any benefit entitlement will be based on the calculation of income from the details you provide on this form.
If you have have only just started a new business, it is possible to use your projected or forecasted income to calculate your benefit entitlement. However, this can only be done for a short period of time.
You should maintain your business records. You may be asked to supply these details on a regular basis, until your business is established and you have been trading for a full year.
If you have any fully audited business accounts check to see if they are no older than for the previous financial year. If so, you should provide these, as soon as possible, to support your claim. If these audited accounts are older than this, please check with a Benefits Officer to see whether these accounts are needed.
