Claim for Council Tax Support
and Housing Benefit
Do not fill out this form until you have read these notes. After you have read and
understood them, remove the notes by tearing along the perforated line.
Do not fill in this form if you already get Council Tax Support or Housing Benefit from Somerset West
and Taunton Council and you have moved to another address within the area or found work. Instead,
complete a Return to Work or Change of Address form.
About the form, how to claim and the proof we need
We have written this form in plain English so it is easier to understand. We need you to answer in full so
we can pay you the right amount of benefit. For example, if you receive an allowance for a disability, it
could mean you get more benefit. You may not have to fill in all parts of the form but you must fill in all
the parts that apply to you.
We need to see proof of some of the things you tell us about. There is a checklist on pages 21 and 22
to help you. If you are not sure if we need to see proof of something, phone us on 0300 304 8000.
We will normally treat the day you first contacted us to send this form as the date you want to claim.
We call this day the “date of first contact”. You have one month from the “date of first contact” to give
us the completed form and all the proof we need.
We ask you to return the proof and form together, but if you do not have all the information to go with
your form, make sure you give us your claim within one month of the “date of first contact”.
If we get your form more than one month after the “date of first contact”, we can only pay any Council
Tax Support or Housing Benefit you may be due from the Monday after we receive it.
If we did not issue you with this form, for example you downloaded it from our website or someone
got the form for you, phone us immediately on 0300 304 8000 and tell us you are going to claim. We
will then treat the day of your call as the “date of first contact”.
We can arrange a private appointment with you to help you with your claim. If you give us the proof
and information we need, we can work out your claim immediately.
Fill in the form using black ink. If you make a mistake, cross it out and put the right answer next to it.
Do not use correction fluid or tape. Answer Yes or No questions by putting a tick in the relevant
box. If you are picking an answer from a list, tick the box that applies to you.
Make sure you read and sign the declaration on page 20 when you have filled in the form,
The sooner we get your form with all the proof we need, the sooner we can work out your claim.
Contact Information for help to claim Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support
Telephone 0300 304 8000 (lines open Monday to Friday 8am-6pm)
Post: PO Box 866, Taunton, TA1 9GS
Deane House, Belvedere Road, Taunton TA1 1HE
West Somerset House, Killick Way, Williton TA4 4QA
Email: benefits@somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk
Visit: www.somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk
Translation or other help: If you need help because English is not your first language, contact
us. We can also provide this form in large print, Braille or on audio tape.
Independent Advice: The Citizens Advice Bureau can help you claim and offer a wide range of
advice on other benefits. Telephone 01823 282235
Due to COVID-19, our offices are closed. Please do not write to us or send us your claim through the post.
Download this claim form and fill it in electronically. When you have finished, save it to your device.
The checklist tells you the evidence we need to see to assess your claim. Use a smartphone or mobile
device to take photographs of the evidence you need to support your claim. Send your completed claim
and photos of your evidence to us by email. Make sure you put your full name and address in the email.