Family Early Help
Council Tax Support
This is a type of benefit that reduces the amount of council tax you need to pay. The discount you’re entitled to is worked out by looking at your income and your individual circumstances which are explained on this page. If you think you’re eligible, you can make a claim here.
From Camden's website https://www.camden.gov.uk/financial-support-for-residents1
Housing Benefit
Families may be able to get housing benefit to help with rent. You can claim housing benefit if one or more of the following applies to you:
- live in Specified Accommodation
- live in Temporary Accommodation
- are a single person of Pension Credit age or
- are a member of a couple and both members of the couple are of Pension Credit age.
"Specified Accommodation" includes:
- Accommodation provided by a housing association, registered charity or voluntary organisation into which you have been admitted to meet a need for care, support or supervision and where you receive care, support or supervision
- Domestice violence refuges and
- Local authority hostels.
"Temporary Accommodation" includes accommodation provided by a local authority, or another provider of social housing in arrangements made with a local authority, in order to prevent a person being or becoming homeless
Here is a link to applying for housing benefit
https://www.camden.gov.uk/housing-benefit?inheritRedirect=true#yddo
Discretionary Housing Payments
If you’re receiving Housing Benefit or Universal Credit, but still need help paying rent, you may be able to get a Discretionary Housing Payment. If you are receiving Universal Credit you must be getting help with your housing costs in order to be able to apply for discretionary housing payment.
A Discretionary Housing Payment might be given to cover a rent deposit, benefit cap or if you have a spare bedroom, rent in advance or removal expenses (if you have a valid reason to move).
You can find out more about discretionary housing payments and applying for them here
https://www.camden.gov.uk/help-housing-costs?inheritRedirect=true
Getting Specialist Benefits Advice
Remember it may well be worth seeking help and support on benefits from specialist agencies, to make sure the family are getting the right benefits and have maximised any benefits income. You can find information about welfare rights help (from the Camden Welfare Rights Team or external advice agencies) on the Guidebook here