Frequently Asked Questions
HOW MUCH WILL I GET?
This will depend on the income you have coming into your household and your capital. We do not pay any service charges such as water, heating and cleaning of your room, flat or house but will pay certain communal charges.
I LIVE WITH A CLOSE RELATIVE WHO CHARGES ME RENT
You cannot claim Housing Benefit if they are one of the following.
- Parent, Step parent or parent in law
- Brother or sister
- Son or daughter
- Son in law daughter in law
- Step son or daughter
- Partner of any of the above
I RENT A PROPERTY FROM A CLOSE RELATIVE WHO DOES NOT LIVE
AT THE PROPERTY
You may claim benefit as long as the property is let on a commercial
basis and there is a formal tenancy agreement.
WHAT DO I DO IF MY CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE CHANGED?
You must inform us of any change of circumstances in your household and
any change of income, capital, and rent amounts.
WHEN WILL MY BENEFIT START?
If you are already living in the property your benefit will normally
be assessed from the Monday following receipt of the claim form. If
you have moved to a new address we can start the benefit from the date
you start your new tenancy providing that your application form has
been received within the same week. If you receive Income Support/JSA
IB we can start your benefit from the date of your entitlement to these
benefits providing your application form has been received within four
weeks of your I/S and JSA IB start date.
I HAVE TO LEAVE MY HOME WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MY BENEFITS?
If you go to hospital we can pay your benefit for up to 52 weeks providing
that you intend to return to the property. However the amount of benefit
we will pay may decrease after six weeks. Housing Benefit can also
be paid if you leave your home due to the threat of violence but this
does depend on the circumstances.
If you are being held in prison on remand you can receive benefit for 52 weeks. If in that time you are sentenced and committed to prison your benefit will stop. (Unless you serve 13 weeks or less.) If you have any further questions please contact our Benefit Office and one of our benefits staff will be able to help you with any question/query you may have.
CAN I CLAIM BACKDATED BENEFIT?
As long as you have 'good cause' as to why you failed to return our application
form on the date that you wish to claim from. Good reasons for making
a late claim could be that you were ill or waiting for a decision about
another benefit. Contact the Benefit Section if you think this may
apply to you on 01322 343705.
CAN I STOP PAYING MY RENT/COUNCIL TAX WHEN I CLAIM?
No. you should continue to pay until you are notified of any entitlement.
If you are experiencing difficulties contact
Darthomes at: housing.services@dartford.gov.uk
01322 343570
Council Tax section at: council.tax@dartford.gov.uk
01322 343700
