Payment of Housing Benefit

How is my benefit paid?

With the introduction of the Local Housing Allowance on 7 April 2008, if you are a private tenant making a new claim we will pay your housing benefit directly to you, preferably into a bank account fortnightly in arrears. It will be your responsibility to pay your rent to your landlord. There are very few times we will pay your benefit straight to your landlord under the Local Housing Allowance rules. This means that you will need to open a bank account if you do not have one already, or alternatively you may want to open a basic bank account purely for the receipt of Housing Benefit. You can then arrange for your bank or building society to pay your rent to your landlord automatically by Direct Debit or standing order. If you need to find out more information about opening a basic bank account, please:
visit Basic Bank Accounts information page visit click here

Visit The Money Advice Service Website http://yourmoney.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/products/bank_accounts/types_of_bank_account.html

visit or talk to your local Citizens Advice Bureau or other Welfare Advice Agencies

For further guidance please refer to the section under Local Housing Allowance to see if this applies to you.

If you ask us to pay directly to your landlord and we are able to, payment will be made four-weekly in arrears.
If you ask for payments to be made to you and you fall behind with paying your rent by eight weeks or more, your landlord can ask us to pay your housing benefit directly to them.
Council Tax benefit will show as a reduction on your Council Tax bill.

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Contacting Us

If you would like more information or advise you can:

Write to us at:
Isle of Wight Council
Revenues Division
Council Offices
Sandown
Isle of Wight
PO36 9EA
Telephone on: - 01983 823950
Late night opening for telephone enquiries every Wednesday until 6pm.

Email – [email protected]

In Person – you can visit us at any of our local offices
Opening Times 8.30 am – 5.00 pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and 8.30 am – 4.30 pm Fridays. Closed all day Tuesday

Page last updated on: 30/10/2012