Council Tax
Housing Benefit for Working Age claimants
From Thursday 4 May 2006 the Jobcentre Plus in Bexleyheath is operating the Customer Management System (CMS).
The CMS is Jobcentre Plus’s information gathering process for new and repeat claims for Income Support (IS), Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Incapacity Benefit (IB) and any associated claims to Housing Benefit (HB) and Council Tax Benefit (CTB).
The CMS is designed to avoid duplication in the information gathering process and to speed up the time it takes to process claims.
For the majority of customers, claim details will be taken over the telephone, and this represents a significant change to the way customers are encouraged to claim benefits.
Furthermore, Bexley Council will receive Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit claim information from Jobcentre Plus, rather than directly from the customer.
If you are of working age and want to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Income Support (IS), or Incapacity Benefit (IB) you can contact the Jobcentre Plus directly.
From 4th May 2006, customers with new claims should telephone 0845 601 6916. Customers with existing claims need to contact Income Support on 0845 602 1327 or Jobseekers Allowance on 0845 6017681.
As Jobcentre Plus staff will effectively be gathering most of the information required for claiming Housing and Council Tax Benefit, this will result in important changes to the way in which people of working age claim help with their rent and Council Tax at Bexley.
New Arrangements At Erith Town Hall and the Coventry Help Line for HB and CTB Claimants
From 4th of May 2006 anyone of working age who is considering applying, or has applied for Income Support (IS), Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), or Incapacity Benefit (IB) - who attends the Reception Centre at Erith Town Hall - will be directed to a telephone link to Jobcentre Plus.
You will be able to ring the Jobcentre Plus directly from the Reception Centre at no cost to yourself.
Information You Still Need to Provide To Bexley Council
Once the Jobcentre Plus has received everything it needs to process your claim, any information related to the Housing and Council Tax Benefit application e.g. income details, will be forwarded directly to the Benefits Office at Erith Town Hall.
In some cases this will enable the Council to process Housing and Council Tax, however, there is some evidence that Jobcentre Plus will not request and so the Council will not be able to assess some benefit claims until this information is provided.
Jobcentre Plus staff will not provide the Council with the following information, which you will be asked to provide to the Council separately:
- Proof of the rent which you pay to your landlord;
- Proof of non-dependants in your household and proof of non-dependants' income (a non dependant is someone aged 18 or over who normally lives with the person claiming benefit such as an adult son, daughter, relative or friend).
For Housing and Council Tax Benefit claims made at the same time as claims for only Incapacity Benefit or Jobseekers Allowance (Contributions Based) you also need to provide us with the following information:
- Proof of income, capital or any savings that you may have;
- Proof of any income, capital or savings you or your partner might have.
It is anticipated that these new arrangements may take some time to bed in. If you have any queries you can email the Benefits Office at: benefits@bexley.gov.uk. |
