How you claim Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Education benefits

JCP or TPS should also take details for your Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit claim when you make a new claim with them over the phone for any of these benefits:

• Income Support;
• income-based Jobseeker's Allowance;
• contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance;
• Employment Support Allowance; or
• Pension Credit.

This is to save you having to make a separate Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit claim.

We (the Benefits Service) will then contact you if we need any extra details or evidence for Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit or Education benefits (free school meals and secondary-school clothing grants).

However, if you make a new claim with JCP or TPS and for any reason they don't take details for your Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit claim at the same time you will need to make a direct claim  to us straightaway.

If you are not making a new claim with JCP or TPS you must make a direct claim for Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Education benefits to us, the Benefits Service.