Benefit Information
What do I need to do to claim benefit?
You need to complete a claim form. You can either complete a form supplied by the council, or you can contact your local Jobcentre Plus for an application pack. If you claim Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support or Incapacity Benefit by telephone, you should be asked if you also wish to claim Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit. You can get the council's claim form from our offices in Dunstable, or the Leighton Buzzard Citizone.
Once you have completed your form, send it to the Benefit Service, South Bedfordshire District Council, The District Offices, High Street North, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 1LF. Do not delay in sending your form in, as you may miss out on benefit.
How is benefit paid?
If you live in privately rented accommodation (including Housing Association properties), Housing Benefit is paid by BACS payment. We will pay you every two weeks, in arrears. If you are a private tnenant who does not come under the Local Housing Allowance scheme, you can request for us to pay your landlord instead. They will be paid every four weeks.
If you claim Council Tax Benefit only, any entitlement is credited directly to your Council Tax Account and will show on your bill.
When does benefit start?
Benefit usually starts on the Monday after we receive your completed claim form. We can sometimes pay you from an earlier date if you send your form back within one month of when we sent it to you, so do not delay in sending your form in.
If you want us to pay from an earlier date, you can request that your benefit is backdated. Benefit is only backdated if there were special circumstances which meant that you could not claim earlier.
Where can I get help if I need to know more?
Our offices in Dunstable are open from 8.45 a.m. to 5.15 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, from 9.30 a.m. to 5.15 p.m. on Wednesday, and from 8.45 a.m. to 4.45 p.m. on Friday. No appointment is needed. Alternatively, you can ring us between the above times on 0300 300 8000 and speak to a member of the Benefits Service.
You can get Benefit forms and leflets, and hand in documents at the Leighton Buzzard Citizone in West Street, Leighton Buzzard during their opening hours (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 8.45 a.m. to 5.15 p.m., Wednesday 9.30 a.m. to 5.15 p.m. and Friday 8.45 a.m. to 4.45 p.m.) If you have questions about your Benefit entitlement, or wish to speak to a Benefits Officer, the Benefits Service will be at the Citizone on Tuesday from 9.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.
Please note that the Benefits Service is busiest between 12 noon and 2.00 p.m. You may have to wait longer to see a Benefits Officer between these hours.
What can I do if I don't agree with the amount of benefit I have been awarded?
If you think we have worked out your benefit incorrectly or you disagree with the figures we have used, you can ask us to look at your claim again, or you can appeal against our decision. When we tell you how much benefit you are awarded, we will give you more information about how to do this.
An officer who was not involved in making the decision will go through the details of your request, and the information used to make the original decision, and will decide whether they agree with it, or whether the decision should be changed. You can appeal against the reconsideration, whether the decision changes or not.
You can also request that your benefit is backdated if you disagree with the date we have made the award from. There are strict guidelines for councils about this and you will need to show that you have good cause as to why you did not apply earlier.
What happens if I want to appeal against a decision?
Your appeal must be made in writing, and must state the decision you disagree with and why you disagree. We must receive it within one month of sending you our decision.If we receive it outside of a month, you must also tell us why it is late, including any special circumstances. The appeal will be heard by an independant tribunal called The Tribunals Service.
The (Decision and Appeals) Regulations 2001 state that any 'person affected' by a relevant decision can ask the Council to revise its decision. It also states that a person affected can appeal against the Council's decision to an independent appeal tribunal.
A relevant decision is any matter concerning a claim for benefit, for example: the amount of benefit payable, the rent eligible for benefit, the calculation of a claimants income or the calculation and recovery of an overpayment. Some decisions, mainly administrative decisions, do not carry a right of appeal. You will be notified if the matter you are disputing does not carry the right of appeal.
Am I a person affected by the decision?
- A claimant
- Someone acting on behalf of the claimant who is appointed by the Courts
- Someone who the Council agrees is appointed to act on behalf of the claimant
- A landlord - but only in matters relating to whom payment of Benefit is to be made
- An agent - but only in matters relating to whom payment of Benefit is to be made
- Any person from whom, it is determined, an overpayment is to be recovered
This means that only the claimant or their representative can appeal about the calculation of a their benefit. A landlord or agent can only ask the Council to revise a decision about whether payment should be made to them and whether the decision to recover an overpayment from a landlord or agent has been correctly made.
Is there any other help I can claim for?
If, after you have been awarded benefit, you are finding it difficult to meet your rent or council tax payments, you can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment. You will have to provide details of your income and all of your outgoings together with any information that you think would be relevant. Examples of information that might be relevant include anything which means your outgoings are higher than other people's, or special reasons why you have to live in the property that you do.
You can download the Discretionary Housing Payment Form here (PDF 110.8KB)
After we receive your application for a Discretionary Housing Payment, a panel of officers from the Benefits Service and the Housing Needs Service will look at the information and evidence you have provided, and consider whether the council should give you some additional help.
What should I do if there is a change in my circumstances?
You must write to the Benefits Service straight away and give details of the change. We may ask for more information or proof of the change in order that your benefit is worked out correctly. If you do not tell us straight away, then this could mean you are overpaid benefit which you will have to pay back. It could also mean that you miss out on benefit you would otherwise be entitled to. Examples of changes you need to report to us are:
- Changes in your rent, unless you are a council tenant.
- Changes in your earnings.
- Changes in who lives with you.
- Your Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance stopping.
If you have any doubt about whether you need to tell us about a change, then please contact us on 0300 300 8000.
I am starting work. Can I still get benefit?
You can still get benefit when you are working, provided that you are still on a low income. If you are already on benefit before you start work, you should tell us straight away, even if you are receiving Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance. Do not rely on anyone else to tell us.
When you are working, we will need to see proof of all your income and capital, including proof of your earnings. We normally ask to see five weeks' or two months' payslips, but if you do not have these, your employer can complete a 'Certificate of Earnings' to tell us how much you are (or will be) paid. We will also need to see proof of any other income you have, and proof of all your capital showing at least the last three months' transactions.
When will my benefit be reviewed?
We may review your benefit at any time. We will usually do this by coming to visit you, or by sending you a form to complete. If an officer comes to visit you, they will carry an identification card showing who they are and that they work for the Council. If you have any doubts about a visitor who says they are from the Benefits Service, you can call our office on 0300 300 8000 and confirm that we have sent someone to review your claim.
We do not review every claim, every year, and you do not have to renew your benefit claim each year in order for payments to continue. You do have to tell us if you have any changes in your circumstances - do not wait until your claim is reviewed.
