Benefit Payments
This page outlines how and when your Housing and or Council Tax
benefit will be paid.
Payment
Once we have received a claim for Housing and or Council Tax
Benefit with all the information and evidence it reasonably
requires we must notify the persons affected about the decision on
the claim.
How Quickly Will my Benefit be Paid?
We aim to process all claims for benefit
within 14 days of all information being
received. Therefore, please do not delay in bringing in
any information to process your claim!
How Will I be Paid?
- Any Council Tax Benefit that is awarded will be credited to
your Council Tax account and a revised bill will be sent to
you.
- Any Housing Benefit that is awarded will be paid via BACs
or by cheque.
- Housing Benefit payments are normally made direct to the
tenant.
- We can make the payment to an appointee or executor.
- We can make the payment to your landlord or their agent by BACs
or by cheque which may help you to keep up to date with your rent.
Please refer to the Local Housing Allowance (
LHA
) Scheme.
- We usually have to pay Housing Benefit straight to a landlord
if there are 8 or more weeks rent arrears. Please refer to the
Local
Housing Allowance (
LHA
) scheme.
- download a application for direct payments to
landlords (PDF, 30KB).
When Will I be Paid?
Following the first payment we usually
pay:
- The tenant two weekly in arrears and
- Landlords four weekly in arrears.
Bank Accounts
We are committed to improving the service we
provide and are pleased to be able to offer to pay Housing Benefit
directly into your account. This is the safest way to pay you and
you can use a bank, building society or other account provider.
- You can find your account details on your cheque book, passbook
or statements.
- You will then be able to check the Housing Benefit payments on
your account statement.
- A Basic Bank Account leaflet (PDF,
180KB) from the Financial Services Authority (
FSA
) is available for
information.
