Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Claim Form To make a claim you will have to complete a claim form. But make sure you read our guidance first.

Make a new claim

If you are living on a low wage, or receive Income Support or any other benefit, you may be able to get help with your rent and Council Tax payments (although it is still possible to get a discount or exemption in your Council Tax without claiming for benefit).

Housing Benefit (HB), Council Tax Benefit (CTB) and Second Adult Rebate (deduction made on Council Tax for a second adult) can be claimed in different ways, depending on your circumstances. This section explains what you need to do to claim.

New claims for HB and CTB only

If you are making a new claim for HB, CTB or Second Adult Rebate, but you are not making a new claim for Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance or Pension Credit you must fill in a claim form(pdf, 304KB) from Richmond Council. Complete the form and hand it in to the benefits counter at the Civic Centre, 44 York Street, Twickenham, TW1 3BZ.

We will need proof of your circumstances in order to assess your claim. See our proof checklist. It's also important that you read our guidance on filling in the form.

Making a new claim at the same time as other benefits

If you are working age and making a new claim for;

  • Income Support;
  • Jobseekers Allowance;
  • Employment and Support Allowance,

...you can also claim HB and CTB at the same time. Jobcentre Plus will take the information we need and pass it on to us. We may need to ask you for more details about your rent.

You can contact Jobcentre Plus on 0800 055 6688. If you find it hard to speak or hear clearly a textphone is available on 0800 023 4888. Lines are open from 8.00am to 8.00pm, Monday to Friday. You can also claim Jobseekers Allowance online.

Pensioner claims for HB and CTB

Claiming HB and CTB is easier for most pensioners. How you claim will depend on whether you claim Pension Credit or not.

Making a new claim for Pension Credit

The Pension Service will take a phone claim for Pension Credit and ask you if you want to also claim HB and CTB. You will be sent a Customer Statement to sign and return to The Pension Service. They will send all the information necessary for us to process your HB and CTB claim. We will then tell you in writing what our decision is.

If The Pension Service decide it would be better to visit you, if you are blind or have other medical conditions, your local Pension Service visiting team will complete a Pension Credit and HB and CTB claim at your home.

Contact the Pension Service on 0800 99 1234 to make a new Pension Credit claim.

Contact the pension service on telephone number 0208 481 3113 to book a face to face appointment.

Already getting Pension Credit

If you get Pension Credit and you have missed out on HB or CTB or if you are not claiming Pension credit, download and print the claim form(pdf, 304KB). Complete the form and hand it in to the Benefits counter at:

Civic Centre, 44 York Street, Twickenham, TW1 3BZ

We will need proof of your circumstances in order to assess your claim. See our proof checklist.