If you are able to claim Housing Benefit, you can apply for help with your rent in a number of ways. The most efficient way is to apply online. This is the Council's preferred method of application.
If you have made a claim for, or you are already receiving Universal Credit, you cannot make a claim for Housing Benefit, unless you live in specified accommodation or certain types of temporary homeless accommodation. This is because your housing expenses are usually considered as part of your Universal Credit calculation.
Sefton is now classed as a Universal Credit full service area. This means that most working age customers cannot make a new application for Housing Benefit (unless they fall into one of the exceptions categories). If you do not fall into one of the exception categories, any help with rent, must be met through Universal Credit instead.
The application form is responsive to the questions you answer and will only ask the questions that are required by legislation and that are relevant to your circumstances.
It is important that you answer the questions completely and accurately, if the information is incorrect or incomplete it may take longer to sort out your claim.
You can also complete a trial calculation to see what benefit you may be entitled to. This is the fastest and easiest way to submit your claim.
Please ensure that you have the following details available before you start the application process:
- Details of all your household members and income
- The full details of your rental liability, the property(number of rooms), your landlord's and/or agent's name, address and postcode
- If you are employed, you will need the full details of your income received along with your employer's name, address and postcode
- If there is any additional information you want to tell us about, you can include the details in the 'other information' option near the end of the application form.
Please note, in order to comply with data protection requirements, any incomplete forms that are not submitted within 14 days of the date that they are started, will automatically be deleted from the system. You would then need to start a new application if you still wish to make a claim for Housing Benefit. It is your responsibility to ensure that claim forms are submitted in time.
You can complete an application form at all of the following Council offices:
Sefton One Stop Shop Offices (open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm)
- Bootle One Stop Shop, 324 - 342 Stanley Road, Bootle, L20 3ET
- Southport One Stop Shop, The Atkinson, Lord Street, Southport, PR8 1DB - Southport One Stop Shop is appointment only, to make an appointment please call 0345 140 0845
You can now submit evidence to support your claim to the following libraries:
- Crosby Library, Crosby Road North, Waterloo L22 0LQ
- Formby Library, Duke Street, Formby, L37 4AN
- Meadows (Maghull) Library, Hall Lane, Maghull, L31 7BB
- Netherton Library, Glovers Lane, Netherton, L30 3TL
- Southport Library, Lord Street, Southport, PR8 1DJ
You must provide evidence of the rent you have to pay in the form of a tenancy agreement and / or a rent statement from your landlord.
If you receive any state benefits or Tax Credits, you must provide evidence of this. This is usually your notification/award letter from the Department for Work and Pensions or HMRC (depending on which benefit / Tax Credit you receive).
If you are working, please provide 5 consecutive weekly payslips, 3 consecutive fortnightly payslips or 2 consecutive monthly payslips.
If you are self-employed you must provide details of your business income and expenditure.
You can scan or take a picture of your evidence and email it to benefits@sefton.gov.uk please include your reference number in the title. You can also upload your evidence via our online portal.
If you are NOT classed as a pensioner*, your claim can be backdated for a maximum of one month. However, you have to show "good cause" as to why your claim should be backdated including why you did not make a claim for benefit at the time.
If you ARE classed as a Pensioner*, your claim can be backdated for up to three months. There is no requirement to show "good cause".
Your request for backdating must be made by completing an online Request for Backdating form.
Definition of a pensioner for Housing Benefit
If you are single you are classed as a pensioner once you have reached your 66th Birthday.
If you are part of a couple**, you are classed as a pensioner if you have both reached your 66th Birthday.
If you are part of a couple and only one of you have reached your 66th Birthday, in most cases this will mean that you are not classed as a pensioner.
**You are part of a couple if you live with your partner. A partner is someone you are married to or have a civil partnership with, or a person you live with as if you were their husband, wife or civil partner.
If you want to find out if you will qualify for help with your rent, you can:
- You can 'Check your eligibility'
- Contact the Council's Welfare Officer on 0151 934 3946 who will assist you further.
To sign up for online notification letters, go to the View your claim and letters section and choose 'Register for online letters' and enter your details. You will need your current claim reference to do this.