Apply for Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax reduction
If you need support with housing, benefits, managing your finances or advice on community matters we’re here to help.
Visit one of our drop-in clinics or contact us on 01353 665555.
Housing Benefit can pay all or part of your rent. The amount you will get depends on your income and circumstances.
You can only apply for Housing Benefit if you rent your home. If you have a mortgage and need help you can apply for Council Tax support.
Some people will need to claim support for their housing costs as part of their Universal Credit claim. Find out if you should claim Universal Credit or Housing Benefit.
Read more about Housing Benefit on the government website.
In East Cambridgeshire Housing Benefit is managed by Anglia Revenues Partnership.
Visit the who can get Housing Benefit page on Anglia Revenue’s partnership’s website.
Housing Benefit covers the cost of your rent and any service charges that must be paid for living at the property, such as maintaining a communal area.
It does not cover costs such as heating, water, gas or electricity.
If you rent your home from a private landlord, and you are eligible for Housing Benefit, the amount you can receive is based on Local Housing Allowance where you live.
You can find out more about the Local Housing Allowance rates on the Anglia Revenues Partnership website.
If your house is considered too large for you, any Housing Benefit you receive may be reduced.
If you are in rented social housing such as a housing association property, you can find out more by visiting the eligible rent page on Anglia Revenues Partnership’s website.
If the Housing Benefit you receive does not cover the cost of your rent and you are still having difficulty meeting payments, we may be able to help. The Discretionary Housing Payment is a limited fund that we can access to help in exceptional circumstances.
A benefit overpayment is when you are given more money than you are entitled to. This may happen if we don't know your circumstances have changed. In most cases we will expect you to pay back any money you were not entitled to.
If you have been overpaid Housing Benefit, you should pay the full amount shown on your invoice as soon as possible, following the instructions of how to pay as shown on your invoice.
It is important you report any changes in your circumstances that may affect how much Housing Benefit you receive.
Report a change of circumstances
If you need support with housing, benefits, managing your finances or advice on community matters we’re here to help.
Visit one of our drop-in clinics or contact us on 01353 665555.