A reminder has been issued by Stormont this week for people who may be entitled to help with their rates bill.
Rates bills went out to properties across Northern Ireland earlier this month, with approximately 850,000 rateable domestic properties and around 75,000 non-domestic properties here.
Bills began to be issued to properties and businesses from Thursday, April 3. Last year, almost £1.6 billion was collected in rates, providing funding for essential public services including health, education, infrastructure.
Read more: Northern Ireland rates bills issued - everything you need to know
The Department of Finance at Stormont, meanwhile, has this week issued a reminder to people that "Housing Benefit and Low Income Rate Relief may be available to low income domestic ratepayers who are not eligible to claim Universal Credit".
The Department issued the reminder on social media website Twitter (X), with a link to a 'guide to rates' web page on NI Direct.
The NI Direct site states: "People on low incomes can get help to pay their rate bill. If you or you and your partner are of state pension age you can apply for Housing Benefit and Rate Relief. If you are getting Universal Credit you may be entitled to Rate Rebate to help pay rates."
In a separate section on Housing Benefit, the NI Direct site states: "Housing Benefit can help pay the rent and rates on your home if you are on a low income. Rate Relief will help to pay your rates. You can claim Housing Benefit if you pay rent and rates for your home and you:
- are a Housing Executive tenant
- are a housing association tenant
- are a private tenant
- live in a hostel
- live in bed and breakfast accommodation
- are a boarder or lodger"
The government website adds: "To be eligible for Housing Benefit, you and your partner must be of pension age. You must be liable for paying rent or rates on a property you live in as your main home.
To decide how much Housing Benefit you're entitled to, the Housing Executive compares your income with the amount the government says you need."
The application for Housing Benefit can be found at this link.
And in a section on a rates rebate, the NI Direct website says: "Homeowners who are pensioners can apply for Housing Benefit and Rate Relief to help pay all or some of their rates. The Housing Executive is in charge of the Housing Benefit and Rate Relief scheme for homeowners.
"If both you and your partner (if you have one) have reached pension age you must:
- not have capital over £50k
- be an owner occupier
- not be in a co-ownership or rental buy scheme
- not already get Housing Benefit and Rate Relief from the Housing Executive
- not already get Universal Credit"
The government website notes that you can't claim both a rates rebate and housing benefit.
The website adds: "To assess your application for Housing Benefit and Rate Relief, the Housing Executive needs information about your income and household circumstances. They’ll ask about:
- you and your partner, if you have one
- your children or anyone living with you
- anyone you share ownership of the property with, other than your partner
- you and your partner’s income, including any benefits you already receive as wages, grants, pensions (from your former employer), or any income you receive from additional property or land you own
- capital you and your partner have in stocks, shares, bank, building society or savings accounts"
More information about applying for housing benefit and rates relief can be found here.
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