How Is It Paid?

How we pay Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit

When you fill in the claim from, we will ask you how you want us to pay Housing Benefit.

If you are a Private Tenant

We can pay benefit direct to you or we can pay this to your landlord if:

• You ask us to pay this way
• Your landlord tells us that you owe rent that is more than 8 weeks in arrears
• The Council thinks it is in the best interest of the claimant

This is normally paid four weeks in arrears if paid to your landlord or two weeks in arrears if paid to you. Benefit payments can be made in cheque form or paid direct into a bank account.

If you are a Council Tenant

We will pay benefit direct to your rent account every week.

If you are a Council Tax Payer

Council Tax Benefit is paid direct to your Council Tax Account. Once paid you will receive a new bill, which shows the amount of benefit awarded and if there is a balance outstanding for you to pay.