Housing Benefits

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction - Childcare costs

If you are in receipt of Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Reduction and are paying for child care, the amount you pay may be disregarded from your weekly income in your award calculation.

Who does this apply to?

  • Lone parents working at least 16 hours per week.
  • Couples where both are working at least 16 hours per week.
  • Couples where one partner is working at least 16 hours per week and the other is disabled.

What details do you need?

Direct Benefit Payment - A Guide to Basic Bank Accounts

A guide to basic bank accounts

This section tells you:

  • what a direct payment is;
  • what the advantages of a direct payment are;
  • how to open a bank account; and
  • how to manage you rent payments.

How will I receive my direct benefit payment?
We aim to make all benefit payments into a bank or building society account. We will do this by using a form of direct payment called 'Bank Automated Crediting System' (BACS).  This is a safe and flexible way to receive any payments from us.

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