Contents

  1. Who can claim and how much
  2. New claims
  3. Backdating claims
  4. Income and how it affects your benefits
  5. Savings and investments
  6. Deductions for other adults
  7. Proof needed to support claims
  8. Acceptable proof documents for benefit claims
  9. Sending documents to support claims

Existing Housing Benefit (HB) claims for working age residents will move to Universal Credit at some point before March 2025. See our Housing Benefit page for more details

This page tells you make a new claim for Council Tax Support (CTS) and Housing Benefit (HB) from London Borough of Merton. If you live outside the London Borough of Merton you must apply for CTS and HB from the borough that you live in (unless you have been placed in temporary accommodation by London Borough of Merton). See Find your council  if you are not sure what borough you live in.

You can only make a new claim for HB if you:

  • live in temporary accommodation provided by Merton.
  • live in supported accommodation in Merton.
  • are of pension age and live in Merton.

Most people will therefore, not be eligible to apply for HB and will need to claim Universal Credit (UC) housing element instead. If you are in the category above then you need apply for HB to help with your rent and you should read the instructions on this page.

Anyone who is liable for Council Tax can apply for help to pay this but the way to apply will depend on your circumstances.

Please look at the list of circumstances below and click the one that applies to you. If you are not sure them scroll through them and a brief explanation will help you decide if you need to fill in a Merton claim form.

You are about to claim Universal Credit

Help with your Council Tax

When you claim Universal Credit (UC) you will be asked if you also want to claim help with your Council Tax. If you are liable to pay Council Tax (even if you have yet to receive a Council Tax bill), you should confirm you do want to claim this help. UC will then send us the claim details and your claim will start from the same day you get UC.

Help with your rent

If you need help to pay your rent, you must claim Universal Credit housing cost element for help with your housing costs, (unless you fall into one of the categories listed above).

If you are not sure if you live in supported or temporary accommodation, please ask your landlord to confirm. If you live in this type of accommodation please go to the Other circumstances section below for more guidance on claiming HB.

Applying for a DWP benefit or Pension Credit

Help with your rent

If you are not eligible for Universal Credit and are applying for:

ask to claim Housing Benefits when you apply. The DWP will pass the HB claim to us and you'll only need to answer questions once.

Help with your Council Tax

If you make a claim for HB at the same time as applying for these, we will send you a shortened claim form to claim Council Tax Support when the DWP tell us about your claim for HB. If you are not claiming HB at the same time (for example, you own your home), you will need to complete a CTS online claim form. See instructions about Other circumstances below.

Already applied for Universal Credit, a DWP benefit or Pension Credit

If you declined to claim HB or CTS at the same time as claiming UC, a DWP benefit or Pension Credit and now wish to claim HB or CTS, go to the instructions about other circumstances below. 

If you are not sure if you have already claimed HB or CTS in this way please contact Jobcentre Plus or Pension Credit claims line to find out.

New claims under other circumstances

If you live in London Borough of Merton and none of the above apply to you, claim Housing Benefit (HB) and Council Tax Support (CTS) using our online claim form.

Examples when you should claim HB:

  • you are already getting DWP benefits or Pension Credit but did not claim HB and CTS when you applied for them;
  • you are not eligible to claim Universal Credit (UC) or you forgot to claim CTS when you applied for UC;
  • you are working and already getting Pension Credit or not claiming any of the benefits in the list above.

About the online form

The online form is quicker and easier to complete and saves time. Generally, on line claims get assessed more quickly as:

  • they are sent to us straightaway rather than waiting for a paper form to be delivered;
  • we will be able to tell you what proof is needed to support your claim rather than waiting for us to call you or write to you and tell you;
  • we will also confirm receipt of the claim if you give us an email address so you are confident that your claim has been made.

If you are unable to use the online form, go to our HB and CTS downloadable form.

You can also use this form to claim  Second Adult Reduction.