Falkirk Council

The Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Schemes were introduced by the Government to help people on low incomes pay their Rent and Council Tax.

• Housing Benefit helps people who pay their rent to the Council or to a private landlord or housing association.
• Council Tax Benefit helps people who are liable to pay their Council Tax bill. It does not cover Water and Waste Water charges.

You may also get Second Adult Rebate if you share your home with another adult (not your partner or civil partner) who is unable to pay towards the Council Tax.

If you are unsure about whether you can claim, please read the information on who can claim and who can't claim.

Do you know that you can still claim these benefits even whilst you are in work?

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit can be paid to people who are working and earning.

Almost everyone can be better off in work receiving in-work benefits such as Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Working Tax Credit.

• Benefits Adviser (Directgov)
  Benefit advice, use this online tool to get an estimate of how much benefit you may get, and to find out how changing your circumstances will affect your benefits, for example if you start work.
• Benefits and help when going back to work (Directgov)
  Remember: Most people are better off moving into work, read the Better off leaflet (PDF, 2.1MB) where people who have done so share their experiences.

The Chancellor has announced in his Emergency Budget in June 2010 and in the Spending Review in October a major reform of the current welfare system that will affect the way we administer Housing and Council Tax Benefit. The changes announced to date will take place over a six year period from April 2011 to April 2017.

Details on the changes and how they may affect you can be found on our Latest Benefit News| page.

You can also find a summary of the changes being made (PDF, 95KB)| to other Welfare Benefits as part of the reform programme and the key dates.