Benefits

Information on housing benefit and council tax benefit and access to a range of online benefit services.

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 and support for students 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) .

Housing Benefit is changing (pdf, 75kb) (opens in a new window) from the 1 January 2012 for single people aged 25 to 34 who rent from a private landlord.

Benefits - online services
Depending on where you live in Dorset, you can now do a number of things online from making a new benefit application to viewing your claim details online. You can also see if you may be entitled to benefits by using our benefits calculator.
Housing benefit
You may be eligible for housing benefit and/or council tax benefit if you are on a low income. Check your eligibility and information about how to make a claim online.
Council tax support
You may be eligible for Council Tax Support if you are on a low income. Check your eligibility and information about how to make a claim.
Discretionary Housing Payments
Information on the Discretionary Housing Payment scheme in Christchurch, East Dorset and North Dorset (Stour Valley Partnership).
Benefit fraud
Benefit is for the needy not the greedy. The minority who claim benefits they are not entitled to are costing the country millions of pounds. It does not pay to commit fraud and the chances are that fraudsters will get caught out. The Fraud Act 1997 also gives councils the power to impose a fine or to administer cautions.
Benefits - services
We aim to provide efficient benefit services helping residents to live in decent and appropriate housing. We ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to our service and that it reaches those whose first language may not be English
Pension credits
If you are over 60 years of age you may now be receiving pension credits which means you could also be entitled to help with your rent (including site fees for mobile homes) and your council tax bill.
Tax credit
There are two kinds of tax credit: Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.