Can I get housing benefit?
You may be able to, which could help pay all or part of your rent. You have to claim it from your local authority, but we can help out with housing benefit claim forms if you ask us.

It takes time to get a housing benefit claim through the system, so send in your forms to your local authority as quickly as possible. Remember that if your housing benefit is delayed and you fall behind with your rent, you’ll breach your tenancy agreement. We need to know if this is going to happen so that we know why your rent isn’t being paid.

It’s up to you to sort out any problems with your housing benefit claim. You should keep in contact with the council’s housing benefit department until your claim is through.

What if I have difficulty paying?
The Rent & Financial Solutions Team can work with you if you fall behind with your rent, but we need to know as soon as possible so that we can work with you to repay the money.

We want to avoid a debt growing, so if you tell your customer accounts manager about any problems you have as soon as you know about them, we will do what we can to help you and work out a repayment agreement with you – one that you can afford. We can give you advice on benefits, debts and money management.

If you need independent advice, Shelter Cymru works from our office on Mondays, Wednesdays and alternate Tuesdays. Its adviser can also visit you at home to help sort out any money problems you have.

If you do fall behind on your rent without telling us first, we will be fair but firm. Every year we deal with people who don’t talk to us, who don’t take their arrears seriously, or who pay off other things instead. Too many of them end up with a debt they can’t control and end up being evicted from their homes.

We don’t want that for any of our tenants. If you need to find ways to increase your income and avoid debt, please talk to our Rent & Financial Solutions Team.
We always do what we can to help.