Benefits and help

Are you ready for the Benefit changes?

As you may have heard there are some major changes being made to the benefits system. Find out what's changing and how they may affect you.

• Find out about benefit changes
• Find out about Universal Credit

Find out who can get Council tax and Housing benefit

Who is eligible and how to claim for Council tax benefit (Second adult rebate) or Housing benefit (Local Housing Allowance) or both.

Find out about Council Tax discounts and exemptions

From unoccupied buildings to student nurse discounts

Housing benefit reductions for spare bedrooms (Under Occupancy)

From April 2013, the Government is proposing to reduce the amount of Housing Benefit paid to working age tenants who have spare bedrooms in their homes. This will apply to all council and housing association tenants.

Change in your circumstances

If you have had a change of circumstances that may affect how much benefit you are entitled to, you must tell the Council straight away.

Housing benefit overpayments

Find out more if you have received a bill or invoice for a Housing benefit overpayment.

Report Benefits Fraud

If you think someone is receiving benefits they are not entitled to, please report it using our report benefit fraud online form.

Find out about all other types of benefit

Use the Directgov website to find out about all benefits and financial support.

See left Menu for our full list of Benefits Pages and bottom right Related Items for Downloads, Forms and News.