Housing Benefit
If you are on a low income, you may be eligible for help with paying your rent and Council Tax. If you receive Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance, Employment Support Allowance or Pension Credit Guarantee Credits you could be entitled to benefits to cover all of your rent and Council Tax, depending on who else lives in your home and their income.
Some charges (for example, water rates, heating and garage rents) are not covered by Housing Benefit, so you will need to pay these yourself.
If your circumstances change (for example, if a partner joins the household or an adult child returns to live with you), you must notify the Housing Benefits and Council Tax sections immediately. Failing to do this may mean that changes are backdated, leaving you with rent arrears and liable to repay any overpaid benefits.
South Essex Homes can provide you with help and support making a claim for housing benefit.
To make a claim online for housing benefit and council tax reduction you need to register for MySouthend to access MySouthend forms. As well as being able to apply online for housing benefit and council tax reduction, if you register for MySouthend, you can have access to your Council Tax bills, make payments, view your account, check your housing benefit entitlement, payment dates and notifications and tell Southend-on-Sea City Council about changes to your circumstances.
To find out more, see the About MySouthend page: http://www.southend.gov.uk/MySouthend
To register, or to sign in to your MySouthend account: https://my.southend.gov.uk/
Need more help?
Please select the following links for further information about:
Our friendly Housing Support Team would be happy to help you use a computer to make your claim - please call us on 0800 833 160 for more information.
The Hub, based on the first floor of The Victoria shopping centre in Southend town centre, is open Monday to Friday should you wish to drop in to use a computer free of charge - and help is at hand should you need it!