Advice on Housing and other Benefits

This information is provided by North Shropshire District Council's Benefits Service.

The Council's Benefit Service can help people who find it hard to pay their rent or Council Tax because they have a low income.  If you live in the North Shropshire area, you must make a claim to North Shropshire District Council.  If you live elsewhere, please make your claim with the Council that covers your area.

The types of Benefits we can offer are:

Housing Benefit

This is a Benefit that can help people pay their rent to a private landlord, landlady or Company (including Housing Associations.  You must have a low income to be able to claim this Benefit.

Council Tax

This is a Benefit that can help people pay their Council Tax to the Council.  You must have a low income to be able to claim this Benefit.

Second Adult Rebate

This Benefit can also help people pay their Council Tax to the Council.  However, you can only get it if you are single (single, separated, divorced, widowed) and have other adults resident with you.  You cannot get this Benefit if you have a partner, unless they are disregarded for Council Tax

Benefits and bills - Staying in Hospital

If you go into hospital, we can pay your Benefit for up to 52 weeks as long as you expect to return home within that time.

Clearly you will not always know in advance that you are going into hospital, for example, if you have an accident.  If this is the case, please tell the Council's Benefits Service as soon as you can or ask a friend, relative or Hospital Social Worker to let us know. You will need to tell us:

-         the date you were admitted to hospital

-         the date you expect to be discharged from hospital

-         Any changes in your income

To find out if a stay in hospital affects the Benefit you are claiming or if there are any other Benefits that you may be entitled to please contact the Council's Benefit Service

Discretionary Housing Payments - What are they?

If you make a claim to Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit, you may not qualify for full help towards paying your rent and/or Council Tax.  In these circumstances, the Council may be able to make an award of Discretionary Housing Payments to provide further help.  These payments are separate to those for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, but you must be entitled to at least one of those Benefits to be considered for an award of Discretionary Housing Payments.

How do I apply for an award of Discretionary Housing Payment?

To be considered for an award of Discretionary Housing Payments, you can complete a request form (available from the Benefits Service). Alternatively, you can write to the Benefits Service with your full request.