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: 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:
- Cheetham Hill Road Local Services Office - Thursdays, 10am to 4.30pm.
- Chorlton Library - no surgeries until Spring 2007 because of building work.
- Crumpsall Library - Mondays and Wednesdays, 10am to 3pm.
- Longsight Library - Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10am to 4.30pm.
- Miles Platting Library - Fridays, 10am to 4.30pm.
- North City Library - (opposite Asda in Harpurhey) -Tuesdays, 10am to 4:30pm.
- Withington Library - Mondays, 10am to 4.30pm.
- Wythenshawe Library - Wednesdays and Fridays, 10am to 4.30pm.
For addresses see the list below.
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
Cheetham Hill Road Local Services Office, 549 Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester 8 - Tuesday and Friday, 10am until 12noon.
North City Library, Rochdale Road (junction with Moston Lane), Harpurhey, M9 4AF - Monday to Thursday, 9am until 7pm, Friday and Saturday 9am until 4pm.
White Moss Road Local Services Office, White Moss Road, Manchester 9 - Tuesday and Friday 10am until 12noon.
Monsall St Local Services Office, Monsall Street, Manchester 40 - Tuesday and Friday 10am until 12noon.
Varley St Local Services Office, Varley Street, Manchester 40 - Tuesday and Friday 10am until 12noon.
Miles Platting Library, Varley Street, M40 3PY - Monday, Friday and Saturday 10am until 4.30pm, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 10am until 7.30pm.
Crumpsall Library (closed on Thursdays), Abraham Moss Centre, Manchester 8 - Monday and Wednesday 10am until 7.30pm, Tuesday 1.30pm until 4.30pm, Friday and Saturday 10am until 4.30pm.
South Manchester
Copson St Local Services Office,13 Copson Street, Manchester 20 - Tuesday and Thursday,10am until 12noon.
Withington Library, 410 Wilmslow Road, M20 3BN - Monday to Wednesday 10am until 7.30pm, Thursday 10am until 1pm, Friday 1.30pm until 4.30pm, Saturday 10am until 4.30pm.
Willow Park Housing Trust: - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9am until 5pm, Wednesday 9am until 2pm.
- Benchill Office, 34 Benchill Road, M22 9UF
- Cedars Office, Poundswick Lane, M22 9HH
- Portway Office, 294 Portway, M22 1TG
Alexandra Road Local Services Office, 130 Alexandra Road, Manchester 16 - Tuesday and Thursday, 10am until 12noon.
Chorlton Library, Manchester Road, M21 1PN - Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 10am until 7.30pm, Wednesday 1pm until 4.30pm, Friday and Saturday 10am until 4.30pm.
Bowland Road Local Services Office, 137 Bowland Road, Manchester 23 - Tuesday and Thursday, 10am until 12noon.
Wythenshawe Forum Library, Forum Square, M22 5RX - Monday to Thursday 9am until 8.30pm, Friday and Saturday 9am until 4.30pm.
Manchester Metodist Housing Association (only for tenants of Manchester Methodist Housing Association), Southern Gate, 729 Princess Road, M20 2LT - Monday to Friday 9am until 5pm.
Central and East Manchester
Customer Services Counter, Level 1, Town Hall Extension - Monday to Friday, 8am until 5pm.
Gorton Local Services Office, 27 Garratt Way, Manchester 18 - Tuesday and Thursday, 10am until 12noon.
Stockport Road Local Services Office, 217 Stockport Road, Manchester 12 - Tuesday and Thursday, 10am until 12noon.
Longsight Library, 519 Stockport Road, Manchester 13 - Monday to Wednesday 10am until 7.30pm, Thursday and Saturday 10am until 4.30pm, Friday 1.30 pm until 4.30 pm.
Private Sector Housing Office, Elizabeth House, Victoria Street, Openshaw, M11 - Tuesday and Thursday 2pm until 4pm.
Private Sector Housing Office, 3-5 West Street, Clayton, M11 4EF - Wednesday and Friday, 9am until 12noon.
Eastlands Homes, Eastlands House, Victoria Street, Openshaw, M11 - Monday to Friday, 9am until 4pm.
Grove Village, 5 Guide Post Square, Ardwick, M13 9EA - Monday to Friday, 9am until 5pm.
Note: you can get independent advice on problems with benefits from one of the many advice agencies based in Manchester. You can also send us an email or book an appointment with the Online Adviser.
Need more help? Live in Manchester? Send us an email
Information Provider:
The Benefits Service
Date Written:
11 July 2006
Date Reviewed:
5 October 2006
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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