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Information about claiming Universal Credit, Statutory Sick Pay and other support available can be found on the Government website .
On the 4th May 2021, new regulations came into effect to help people in problem debt to better manage their finances. If you would like further information or would like to find out if you are eligible, please see our Breathing Space webpage.
If you pay rent or council tax for your home and live on a low income (even if you are in full-time work or self-employed), you may be entitled to some help by claiming one or more of the above benefits.
The amount or type of help you will receive depends on who lives with you, the amount of money you have coming in to your household, and any other benefits and savings you have.
You will need to claim Universal Credit if you are of working age and need help towards your rent. See the information link below which explains this new benefit and how to make a claim.
Some of the rules for assessing how much benefit or support you could get are different depending upon your age. From the 15 May 2019 you will be advised to claim Universal Credit if you are of pensionable age but your partner has not reached pensionable age.
Contact Benefits by email: benefits@fareham.gov.uk or phone: 01329 824646.
Council Tax Support from April 2024
See how you may be affected by these changes:
Information about Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support specifically for people of a working age. If you have been told to claim Universal Credit please see the information below which provides guidance on how to claim.
Information about the new benefit specifically for people of working age.
Information about Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support specifically for people of a pensionable age.
If you pay rent or council tax for your home, and live on a low income, you may be entitled to claim. If you have been told to claim Universal Credit, please view our Universal Credit page on how to claim "housing costs". Council Tax Support must still be claimed from Fareham Borough Council.
Find out what you need to tell us when your circumstances change.
Information about Housing Benefit and Universal Credit specifically for landlords.
Find out what to do if you think that a decision about your Housing Benefit ,Council Tax Support or Universal Credit is wrong.
Overpayments occur when you have received too much Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support.
Discretionary Housing Payments provide Universal Credit and Housing Benefit claimants with further assistance where the Local Authority considers that additional help with housing costs is needed.
If you are struggling to pay your Council Tax or having difficulty affording your instalments then please contact the Council Tax office on 01329 824651 or email counciltax@fareham.gov.uk.
Information about Universal Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support fraud and how to report it.