Summary of Main Benefits

Debt advice

For further support and information click on The National Citizens Advice Opens in a new window website.

For information about free Community Legal Advice click on Community Legal Advice Opens in a new window website.

To calculate your benefit entitlement please click here Opens in a new window.

Housing Benefit

This is a general view of housing benefit (HB) for residents of Castle Morpeth Housing Association. There are additional rules for people renting from other types of landlord which are not covered here. If you require further information please contact the Housing Benefit section of your Local Authority.

The document below has further information on Housing Benefit.

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Interim payments

If you:

• are a housing association (or private) tenant;
• have made a claim for housing benefit;
• have provided all of the relevant information

and the local authority has not been able to assess your housing benefit within 14 days, you should receive a payment on account - known as an interim payment - while your claim is being processed. The local authority should automatically do this. You do not have to request an interim payment.

Some local authorities treat interim payments as though they are discretionary. However, the local authority must pay you an amount which it considers reasonable, given what it knows about your circumstances.

For further information on interim payments please read the attached document.

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Discretionary Housing Payments

These are extra payments that can be paid to you by your local authority to help meet your rent or council tax payments - they are not housing or council tax benefit and have different rules attached to them. Payments are made from a cash limited budget and you do not have a right to a payment.

There is further information on Discretionary Housing Payments in the document below.

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Disability Living Allowance

This can be claimed by people under the age of 65 years who have long term disabilities or health problems which make day to day activities and/or getting about outdoors difficult. This benefit has two parts:

• A care component and
• a mobility component.

Each part has different rates. Which rate you get depends upon your needs. You can qualify for just one component or both. You need to have had your health problem or disability for at least three months and expect it to last for at least another six months or more.

People who have been awarded the allowance will continue to be paid after they turn 65 as long as they still qualify for it.

The document below has further information on Disability Living Allowance.

Disability Living Allowance Opens in a new window

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