Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit changes

New rules mean that more help towards rent and council tax is available.

If you have children, Child Benefit will no longer be counted as income, so more people on low income can get help.

If you are aged 60 or over with savings, the capital (savings) limit has increased from £6,000 to £10,000, so a further £4,000 of savings will be ignored when calculating each claim for benefit. Couples joint savings are used to calculate your entitlement.

Those already getting housing benefit or council tax benefit will be reassessed and notified automatically if their benefit increases.

For those who have never claimed before, or you`ve claimed in the past but didn`t qualify the advice is to make a new claim now.

• Claim online via the Council website: www.rochdale.gov.uk
• Email benefits@rochdale.gov.uk