Housing and Council Tax Reduction are national welfare benefits which are administered by local Councils on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

It is estimated that as many as one in three people who could get money off their Council Tax bill are missing out.

Are You Paying Too Much Council Tax or Rent ?

The Benefits Section has a Take Up team whose job it is to identify people who are not claiming the Council Tax or Housing Benefit they are entitled to. 

For more information on the Take up campaign you can click here or use the link on the right hand side of this page.

To find out if you would qualify for Housing and/or Council Tax Reduction Telephone the Take up Team on 01792 635885

If you are already in receipt of Housing or Council Tax Reduction and you need to contact the Customer Services Team please ring 01792 635353. Our contact details and opening hours can be found on our 'How do I? - Contact the Benefits section' page. The 'How Do I?...' section also provides answers to commonly asked questions about these benefits.

Don't forget you can e-mail any questions you have to us or if you are already claiming benefit you can e-mail us to report changes in your circumstances. E-mails are normally replied to within 24 hours. 

What are Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction for?

• Housing Benefit is financial help for people on a low income to help them pay their rent.

• Council Tax Reduction is financial help for people on a low income to help them 
  pay their Council Tax and is based on the circumstances of the person who claims benefit and their household.

Both Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction can be paid at the same time to someone who is liable to pay rent and Council Tax.

Who can apply for Council Tax Reduction?

Anyone who is responsible for paying Council Tax for the property they reside in. That is, the person named on the bill, or their partner.

Who can apply for Housing Benefit?

Anyone who is liable to pay rent for a property which they (or their partner) occupy as their home. In certain circumstances, someone other than the liable person or their partner can apply for Housing Benefit. If you are not the person named on the tenancy agreement as being liable for the rent on your home but you are the person who actually pays the rent, please contact us to discuss whether you may be eligible for benefit.

Is everyone who applies for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction entitled to it ?

The simple answer to this is no but often people who think they would not be entitled to benefit find out that they are. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction are not just for people who are unemployed. If you are on a low income, even if you are working, you may be entitled to some benefit.

Passport to Leisure

The Passport to Leisure scheme allows Swansea residents who are on a low income discounts of up  60% at a wide range of council run sports and leisure venues. Also a selection of private companies throughout the city will offer similar reductions. People who receive Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Reduction would be entitled to discounts under the scheme and more information can be found here.

Wales Interpretation and Translation Service (WITS).

If our customers need to speak to us in another language we can use this service to talk to them about their benefit claim. WITS can provide linguistic services in foreign languages, Welsh and British Sign Language (BSL).

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