Rent
Housing Benefit is help to pay for rent for council, housing association and private tenants. You may be able to claim if your income and savings are low enough. Manchester City Council does not count War Disablement Pensions when working out Housing Benefit.
Housing Benefit is being replaced by Local Housing Allowances from 7 April 2008. Further information available at Direct Gov (External website).
Claim! - on a Housing Benefit claim form (external website) available online or from your local Neighbourhood or Council Housing Office, also from the Town Hall Extension, St Peter's Square. Or phone the Revenues and Benefits Unit on 219 6100, or textphone 953 8301.
Council Tax
Council Tax Benefit is help to pay for council tax for home owners and tenants. You may be able to claim if your weekly income and savings are low enough. Manchester City Council does not count War Disablement Pensions when working out Council Tax Benefit.
Second Adult Rebate - you may be eligible for this help if you are single and another adult who is not your partner lives in your home and has a low income. You have to make the claim, not the other adult.
Claim!- get a form online (external website) or from any of the places listed for Housing Benefit (see above).
Discounts
You may be able to get a council tax discount if you live alone, someone living with you is severely mentally impaired or you are a carer.
You may also be eligible for a Disabled Person's Reduction (external website) - if you change how rooms are used to meet disability needs.
Claim! - Get a claim form for discounts (external website) online or ring Council Tax Enquiries: 219 6130, or textphone 953 8301.
Discretionary Housing Payments
You can also apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment if you need financial help on top of your Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit to meet your housing costs. For example, it can be paid where your rent is higher than the Benefits Unit considers reasonable for Housing Benefit purposes. It can also be paid to top up the difference if you have special circumstances such as a disability, or you care for someone living nearby and therefore could not reasonably be expected to move to cheaper alternative accommodation.
To apply, ask the Revenues and Benefits Unit on 219 6100, or textphone 953 8301.
Different ways of contacting the Revenues and Benefits Unit in Manchester
Home Owner Costs
If you qualify for the guarantee credit part of Pension Credit, you may be able to get help with your mortgage interest costs or service charges. This is paid by the Pension Service as part of these benefits, and not by the Revenues and Benefits Unit. You will need to contact the Pension Service to claim the help.
Need more help? Live in Manchester? Send us an email or book an appointment with the Online Adviser.
Need more help? Live in Manchester? Send us an email
Information Provider:
Manchester Advice
Date Written:
September 2005
Date Reviewed:
January 2008
This information is for guidance only and is not an authoritative statement on the law. Please read our Terms and Conditions.
FeedbackDid you find this page useful? Yes or No