Use the online benefits calculator to estimate your entitlement.

There are a number of other benefits available to help people. What you are entitled to will depend on your circumstances. For information about child benefit, income support or job seekers' allowance contact the Department for Work and Pensions (opens in a new window) .

Bus travel concessions, support for students and help with care services payments are also available.

If you are already in receipt of benefits, you can check the details online.

Benefits leaflets can be downloaded from the National Benefits website (opens in a new window) .  The leaflets are available in other languages (opens in a new window) .  Audio versions are also available.

If you suspect someone of benefit fraud find out how to report them.

Housing Benefit is changing from the 1 January 2012 for single people aged 25 to 34 who rent from a private landlord. For more information please see Housing Benefit changes from Jan 2012 for single people aged 25 to 34 who rent from private landlords (PDF, 75kb) (opens in a new window)

• New claims

  How to check entitlement and apply for housing and/or council tax benefit.

• Backdated claims

  If you have a good reason for not claiming earlier, you can ask us to consider backdating your benefits.

• Local Housing Allowance

  Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is how we work out housing benefit.

• Frequently asked questions

  Questions and answers about housing benefit.

• Change of circumstances

  Your entitlement to housing benefit and/or council tax benefit is based on the information on your application form. Your entitlement will change if your circumstances change.

• Appeals against housing and council tax benefit

  How to appeal against your local council's decision on housing and/or council tax benefit.