	Benefits Service Torbay Council Town Hall Castle Circus Torquay TQ1 3DR
	housing.benefits @torbay.gov.uk
	01803 207201 (tel)
	01803 292866 (fax)
	Additional Contact Details

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Torbay Council Benefits Service

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are national welfare benefits which are administered by local Councils. Torbay Council's Benefit Section is located in the Town Hall, Torquay. Connections offices in Paignton and Brixham are also able to offer benefits advice and assistance.

What are Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit?

Housing Benefit is to help those on a low income to pay their rent.
Council Tax Benefit is to help those on a low income to pay their Council Tax.
These benefits can be paid at the same time to someone who is liable to pay rent and Council Tax.

Please note that homeowners are not entitled to Housing Benefit. If you are an owner–occupier and need help with your mortgage repayments you should contact the Department for Work and Pensions through the local Jobcentre Plus office.

Who can apply for Council Tax Benefit?

You can claim Council Tax Benefit if you are responsible for paying Council Tax for the property in which you reside. i.e. you are the person named on the bill.

Who can apply for Housing Benefit?

You can claim Housing Benefit if you pay rent. This could be as a private tenant, Council tenant, housing association tenant, sub-tenant or lodger.

The amount you will receive will be based on your income and circumstances.

How do I apply for Housing & Council Tax benefit?

Online claim form

You can now apply for Housing and Council Tax Benefits using our electronic form. Please click on the link below in order to do this.

Link

The online Housing and Council Tax Benefits claim form has been designed to be easy to fill in.

It will guide you as you work through it and ensure you only fill in the relevant sections to your claim.
Check for errors and highlight anything you have missed.
It will also securely transmit all your information using encryption software.

Please remember to write down and keep safe your unique reference number exactly as you see it so that you can return to it at a later date if you do not wish to complete straight away. This number is given to you when you start a new electronic claim.

If you need help in completing the claim form, please call at any of our Connections offices in Torquay, Paignton or Brixham or telephone the Council's benefit helpline on 01803 207201. You will need to provide proof of your circumstances so if you call into the Connections offices, it would be useful if you bring with you your tenancy agreement, proof of income and recent bank statements.

If you are claiming Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance or Pension Credit you can claim Housing and Council Tax Benefit at the same time through the Jobcentre or Pensions Service.

As an alternative, you can also print a claim form from this website (below).

Apply - Benefit (Printable)

Please note that entitlement to Housing and/or Council Tax benefit will usually start from the Monday following the date your form is received or the date you have first contacted the Council about making a claim. If you choose to print the form in order to apply, you should also telephone (on 01803 207201) or visit the Council on the day you decide to make a claim to report this, otherwise we will probably only be able to consider benefit from the Monday after the form is actually received.

We have staff trained in British Sign Language to assist if you are deaf or hard of hearing. If they are not available when you visit the office, we will make you an appointment as soon as possible.

Feedback

The Benefit Section welcomes your feedback. If you would like to comment on any aspect of the benefit section, i.e. to suggest an improvement or to comment on or complain about the service please contact us.

Torbay Council Benefits Service