What we can tell you about your tenant's Housing Benefit
If we pay benefit to your tenant
Until we make a decision, we can give you limited information.
As long as they give us permission either on the claim form or in writing we can tell you:
- where the claim is up to;
- whether we have made a decision; and
- when we are sending out the payment.
We cannot tell you confidential things like:
- financial details; or
- how much benefit we pay.
Once we have made a decision on the claim we can't tell you anything more.
If we pay the benefit direct to you
We will write to tell you:
- When we start or stop paying you and the date the benefit started and ended.
- The weekly amount of benefit - it might not cover the whole rent.
- How often we pay.
- How much, if any, we are taking to recover an overpayment.
- Details of cheques paid directly to you.
If we don't yet have enough information to make a decision about the claim, we need the tenant's permission to tell you this, even if the tenant has asked for payments to go to you.
You can register online to view certain details of your tenant's claim.
If we pay your agent
- We expect to deal with your agent, not both of you.
- You must ask your tenant or agent for information you need.
- We will give your agent the same information that we would give you if we paid you direct.