Housing benefit
If you are on a low income, you may be entitled to housing benefit to help you pay your rent. We can help you with information on housing benefit and other welfare benefits advice.
To claim housing benefit, you will need to fill in a form, which you can get from CBHA or from Waltham Forest Council housing benefit office. Make sure you complete the form as soon as you can to avoid delays in receiving payment.
What your housing benefit covers
Housing benefit may cover all of your rent, or only part of it, depending on your income and circumstances. If you have other adults living with you your payments may be reduced to take account of their contribution to the family income. This is called a non-dependant deduction. Some service charges do not qualify for Housing Benefit.
Staff can help you calculate how much you will need to pay yourself.
Housing benefit is usually paid for up to one year, the housing benefit office should let you know when you need to renew your claim by completing a new form. It is very important that you do this at once if you want your housing benefit payments to continue.
Changes to your housing benefit
You must tell the housing benefit office in writing about any changes in your circumstances, for example, family members leaving home, starting work, increases in your rent payments etc. that may affect your claim. It is a criminal offence to fail to tell the housing benefit office about changes which may affect your claim.
Changes to the advantage of the tenant may not be backdated if they are reported more than a month after they occurred. You will need to show the housing benefit office any original documents you have that prove the change, for example, your rent increase notification or pay slips.
Falling behind with repayments
It is your responsibility to make sure that your housing benefits paid so that you do not fall behind with your rent payments. If your payments are delayed, you should chase up the housing benefit office and keep us informed of your progress. We can help you do this.
Mistakes made to housing benefits claims
If you think that the housing benefit office has made a mistake when assessing your claim, you can ask them to review their decision. If you are still not satisfied you can ask a Housing Benefit Review Board to look at your case again. CBHA's Tenancy Support Services team can help you do this, just contact CBHA on 020 7922 8500 or email us to discuss your case.
Who to contact for more help or advice?
For advice on claiming benefits, you can also contact our Money Guidance team or Tenancy Support Services team on 020 7922 8500. Alternatively you may wish to contact your local:
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