Our myBenefits portal is available for anyone who needs to start a new claim or access their existing claim. You can access the myBenefits portal using your myCrawley account so there are no new passwords to remember. If you do not have a myCrawley account you will need to register for one.

The online form is suitable for both Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction applications. The online form will ask you all the questions needed for the application and you will also be able to upload the evidence needed to support you application at the same time. This may include bank statements, payslips or other evidence.

Once the online form is completed it will come straight through to our team of assessors who will process the application.

Help for housing costs is normally paid within claims for Universal Credit. However, there are occasions where this is paid by the local authority through Housing Benefit. This may be when you:

• have been placed into supported accommodation
• have been placed into temporary accommodation by the local authority
• are of pension age including any partner. If either yourself or your partner is not of pension age you would claim Universal Credit housing costs

You may get Council Tax Reduction if your (and any partner’s), income and savings are low enough given your household’s circumstances. 

To apply for this you must be the person liable to pay the Council Tax for the property where you live.

You could:

• be single or have a partner
• have children or live alone
• be working, unemployed or retired
• rent or own your home
• get help whether or not you are receiving a state benefit or pension

You are not eligible for help:

• if you are of working age and you (and any partner) have combined savings and capital over £9,000
• if you (or your partner) have reached the qualifying age for Pension Credits and you (and any partner) have combined savings and capital over £16,000, unless you are also in receipt of Pension Credit Guarantee

Use the government’s online calculator to work out if you have reached the qualifying age for Pension Credits.

The amount you can get depends on:

• who lives with you
• the amount of money you have coming in
• the savings you have

Your (and your partner’s) income and savings are compared to the amount someone in your circumstances needs to live on. The greater your income and savings, the less help you will get with your Council Tax bill.

If you get Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance (income-based), Employment and Support Allowance (income related) or Pension Credit Guarantee, you will normally get enough support to cover all your Council Tax. However, you may get less if you have other people living with you, such as grown-up children.