The Benefits Service (external website) deals with Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Second Adult Rebate, Free School Meals, Secondary School Clothing Grants and Discretionary Housing Payments.
For benefit claim forms and queries about your benefit:
Online: To download a claim form for Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Free School Meals and Secondary School Clothing Grants, follow this link to information about claiming on the Benefits Service (external website) section of Manchester City Council's website.
Email: mailto: benefit.enquiries@manchester.gov.uk
Write to: The Revenues and Benefits Unit, PO Box 3, Manchester, M15 5BA
Fax: 0161 455 1130
Phone: 0161 219 6100 / Textphone (for callers with hearing difficulties who have textphones) 0161 953 8301. Telephone and Textphone service avaliable Monday to Friday 8.45am to 5pm.
Make an appointment for advice at Customer Services Level 1, Town Hall Extension: You need to make an appointment beforehand to see an adviser (except for handing in forms). Phone for an appointment on 0161 234 3695 between 8am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. The reception counter for making appointments and handing in forms is also open between 8am and 5pm. If it's an emergency you can call in but the staff may not be able to see you on the same day. If you have difficulty getting in, it may be possible to arrange a home visit.
Make an appointment at a local benefit enquiries surgery: held at seven local libraries and a local housing office. You must phone for an appointment beforehand to see an adviser - phone 0161 234 3695. Surgeries are as follows:
To see an advisor about benefits or Council Tax at an office near you Phone 0161 234 3695 between 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
For addresses list
For a pre-tenancy determination (PTD) application form: This is to find out (before you sign for a tenancy) how much of the rent will count when your Housing Benefit is worked out. You can only get a PTD if a private landlord owns the property. The PTD may help you decide whether you can afford the rent the landlord is charging. You can get a PTD form from the Customer Services counter (you don't need an appointment to pick one up) or by phoning 0161 455 1010. You will still need to fill in a Housing Benefit claim form if you take the tenancy and want to claim benefit to help with your rent.
For benefit claim forms or to hand in filled-in claim forms and get supporting evidence checked and copied - call at the following offices. You will get a receipt for your filled-in form:
North Manchester
Central and East Manchester
South Manchester
Note: you can get independent advice on problems with benefits from one of the many advice agencies based in Manchester.
Need more help? Live in Manchester? Send us an email
Information Provider:
The Benefits Service
Date Written:
11 July 2006
Date Reviewed:
23 September 2009
This information is for guidance only and is not an authoritative statement on the law. Please read our Terms and Conditions.
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