Supported and sheltered housing - housing benefit
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit can be claimed by contacting the council.
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are national welfare benefits which are administered by Local Authorities on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
On Monday 7th April 2008 the new Local Housing Allowance is being introduced throughout Britain.
Local Housing Allowance is a new way of working out and paying Housing Benefit for tenants of private landlords.
Local Housing Allowance does not affect council tenants or tenants of social landlords, such as Bield Housing Association, Almond Housing Association or Weslo Housing Management, or tenants of charities like the Abbeyfield Society.
Council Tax Benefit helps people on low incomes to pay their Council Tax.
Housing Benefit helps people on low incomes with their rent. There are two kinds of Housing Benefit:
- Rent Rebate for council tenants
- Rent Allowance for private tenants
People who are on low incomes can get help to meet the cost of their rent by applying for housing benefit.
You can be a council tenant, a tenant of a housing association, a tenant of other organisations such as WESLO, a tenant of a private landlord or a boarder or a lodger.
You don't have to be unemployed or retired to claim - a nyone on a low income can claim.
For more information you can contact the council on 01506 775000 or 01506 776800 or the council''s Advice Shop on 01506 776 444.
In West Lothian these benefits are administered by the council's Revenues Unit.
You can also write to us at:
The Benefits Team
West Lothian Council
Revenues Unit
St David House
South Bridge Street
Bathgate
EH48 1TT
Downloadable documents
- A Guide to Housing Benefit for Private Landlords in West Lothian (PDF, 945kb)
- A Guide to Rent Allowance for tenants of Private Landlords and Housing Associations (PDF, 195kb)
- A Guide to Rent Rebate for tenants of West Lothian Council (PDF, 2.04mb)
- Housing and Council Tax Benefit Application Form (PDF, 1.43mb)
- Pre-tenancy Determination Form (PDF, 28KB)
- Revenues - Customer Service Information (PDF, 32kb)
- Sheltered Housing Providers in West Lothian (PDF, 66kb)
- Tellytalk - A new way to get advice on benefits, council tax, discounts and payment arrangements. (PDF, 196kb)
Recycling
You can help look after the environment by recycling at home or at a collection point.
Local Housing Allowance
A new way of working out and paying Housing Benefit for tenants of private landlords.
Housing and support
There is a range of services available for older people.