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What's new in benefits?

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit – Changes to the legislation

Child Benefit Disregard

If you’ve got kids, extra benefits could be coming your way.

Soon, your child benefit won’t be counted when we work out whether you are entitled to housing and council tax benefit. So, if you have children, you might be able to get extra help towards your rent and your council tax.

You could be entitled even if your income has been too high in the past. 

We start making council tax and housing benefits assessments the new way on 2nd November and we are expecting lots more people to qualify as a result of the changes.If you pay rent or council tax and you’d like to see whether you could get extra help as a result of the changes, or if you’d like to make a claim, just get in touch with us. Call the benefits service on 9283 4556 or email hbsupportteam@portsmouthcc.gov.uk. 

Don’t worry…. if you already receive housing benefit and/or council tax benefit and you also get child benefit, the amount you are entitled to will be recalculated automatically. You will be told if there is a change to your benefit entitlement.

Capital Threshold

From the 2nd November 2009 the capital threshold for customers who have reached the qualifying age for state pension credit will increase from £6,000 to £10,000.

This change will mean that up to £10,000 of savings/investments will be disregarded when an assessment to housing benefit and/or council tax benefit is made. The upper limit of £16,000 for those not receiving guarantee pension credit will still apply.

If you currently have a rental and/or council tax charge and you wish to make a claim for housing benefit and/or council tax benefit please contact the benefits service on 023 9283 4556 or email HBSupportTeam@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

If you are already receiving housing benefit and/or council tax benefit your benefit entitlement will automatically be recalculated. You will be notified if there is a change to your current benefit entitlement.