Benefits and support

Council Tax

You could be eligible for help towards the cost of your Council Tax if you're on a low income or claim certain benefits, including Universal Credit. Find out more and apply for Council Tax Reduction.

If you are having problems paying your Council Tax instalment in May and pay by Direct Debit, please contact us on 01744 676789 and we will look to adjust your instalments.

Help with rent

Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates that are used to decide Universal Credit and housing benefit for private renters increased from 1 April 2020.

The LHA rate is set according to the number of bedrooms your household needs.

This increase is in addition to any support provided by us through Discretionary Housing Payments.

If you wish to claim assistance with your rent or general living expenses, please contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

If you are of working age, help with rent is part of Universal Credit. You claim Universal Credit from the DWP rather than from the council.

Rules have been temporarily relaxed for anyone making a new claim and advance payments are available while a claim is being decided. Read more information on Universal Credit. 

If you are in supported accommodation, temporary accommodation or are a pensioner and you need help with rent via housing benefit (general living expenses are still dealt with by the DWP), please visit our benefits pages.

Supporting documents

Supporting documents for benefits, Council Tax Reduction, Discretionary Housing Payments and free school meals can now be sent to us online.

You may have received a letter from us asking you to bring your documents to our Town Hall reception - if this is the case, please use the online service if you are able to, or call us on 01744 676789.

NHS Test and Trace Support Payment Scheme

The scheme ended on 24 February 2022.

Mortgages, loans and credit cards

If you are experiencing financial difficulties meeting your mortgage repayments because of COVID-19, you may be entitled to a mortgage or rental holiday for three months. This includes if you are a landlord whose tenants are experiencing financial difficulties because of COVID-19.

If you are a tenant experiencing financial difficulties because of COVID-19, the government will ensure you do not face the threat of eviction for at least three months.

If you are concerned about your current financial situation, you should contact your lender to discuss if this is a suitable option for them.

If your landlord is not abiding by the new rules, please contact our housing team via our Contact Centre on 01744 676789.

If you are experiencing difficulties paying back personal loans or credit card bills as a result of COVID-19, you should read the following information:

• The Financial Conduct Authority called on lenders to use flexibility built into their rules to support consumers, taking into account customers' individual circumstances. Many major lenders have already made statements to this effect.
• If you agree a payment holiday with your lender, they should record these in such a way that will not impact on your credit score.

If you are experiencing difficulties paying back loans or credit card bills because of COVID-19, you should talk to your lender.