Introduction – claiming benefits

The benefits service is responsible for managing and delivering various benefits and services to local residents. These include:

• Housing benefit
• Council tax benefit
• Backdating benefit
• Free school meals
• School clothing grants
• Discretionary housing payments
• Information for landlords
• Claim the Max! project
• Other government benefits
• Fraud investigation and prevention

Use our online benefits calculator to find out how much help you can claim.

If you need help with financial or legal advice or want to search our advice provider's directory, use this link.

Housing benefit

Housing benefit is a national welfare benefit administered by local authorities on behalf of the government for council tenants, housing association tenants, private landlord tenants and people living in hostels.
More about housing benefit >>>

Council tax benefit

Council tax benefit is a national welfare benefit administered by local authorities on behalf of the government for tenants and for people who own their own home or who have a mortgage.
More about council tax benefit >>>

Backdating benefit

This is for people who want their benefits to start from a date before they made their claim. Please note benefits can only be backdated if you satisfy the benefits service that you had 'good reasons' for not claiming on time.
More about backdating benefits >>>

Free school meals

For children whose parents get income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance or who are working but have a low income.
More about free school meals >>>

School clothing grants

For parents of children who are changing from junior or middle school to secondary school where the parents get income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance or certain other benefits.
More about school clothing grants >>>

Discretionary housing payments

These payments are not part of the benefits scheme and are not governed by the same rules - they are for people who already get at least some housing benefit or council tax benefit under the normal rules on entitlement but who may need extra help.
More about discretionary housing payments >>>

Information for landlords

Tower Hamlets has an excellent relationship with local landlords and is always looking for ways to improve the service it provides.
More about information for landlords >>>

Claim the Max! project

Each year millions of pounds of benefits and tax credits go unclaimed. We want to make sure that Tower Hamlets residents are claiming all their entitlements. Claim the Max project provides benefit advice sessions at various centres in Tower Hamlets.
More about Claim the Max! project >>>

Other benefits and links

All the other benefits and how you can claim them.

Fraud investigation and prevention

Tower Hamlets has a dedicated investigation team to tackle benefit fraud.
More about fraud investigation and prevention >>>