Durham County Council has changed the Council Tax Reduction Scheme. From 1 April 2026, all working‑age residents will need to contribute towards their Council Tax.

We want to make sure you have the right advice and support. If you’re unsure how these changes might affect you, or what to do next, please contact Durham County Council on 03000 262 0000.

Universal Credit

Universal Credit (UC) continues to be a vital source of financial support for millions of people across the UK. Whether you are out of work, on a low income, or living with a health condition.

What is Universal Credit?

Universal Credit is a monthly payment from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that replaces six older benefits:

Income Support
Housing Benefit
Child Tax Credit
Working Tax Credit
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Its designed to simplify the welfare system and provide tailored support based on your circumstances.

If your circumstances change or you need to make a new claim for benefits, please contact our Money Support Team who are ready to provide specialist support and advice.

Request money support Managed migration Benefit and budgeting planner

Tenants chatting to our financial inclusion adviser

Who can claim Universal Credit?

You may be eligible if you:

Are aged 18 or over (some 16–17-year-olds may qualify)
Are under State Pension age
Live in the UK
Have less than £16,000 in savings
Are unemployed, working part-time, or self-employed
Housing element (Varies by rent and location)

Special rules apply for students, carers, and people with disabilities.

Speak to a trained adviser

We know that applying for Universal Credit can feel overwhelming. If you are struggling to understand the process or need help making a claim, support is available:

Request money support

Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice offers free, confidential help through their “Help to Claim” service.

Call: 0800 144 8 444 or
Visit citizensadvice.org.uk

Find out more information and start your claim:

Gov.uk | How to claim

Need support?

Our friendly money support team can help you make the most out of your money by providing expert, tailored support.

Request money support

How do I apply for a Livin home or bungalow?

We advertise all of our available homes on our Find A Home page, simply visit this page for more information.

Before you can place a bid on one of our homes, you must first have an active account with the relevant Choice Based Lettings Scheme. Almost all our homes are located in County Durham and therefore are allocated through the Durham Key Options scheme. Durham Key Options (DKO) is a partnership between Durham County Council and landlords across County Durham.

We have a small number of homes which are located outside Durham, these are all advertised through Tees Valley HomeFinder, Hartlepool HomeSearch and Darlington HomeSearch; They are similar to Durham Key Options but we do not process applications registered for these schemes. If you wish to register an application for homes advertised in this area, please apply directly.

Once your application is approved, you will then be able to bid on homes that meet your needs. You can access the application form directly by visiting the relevant Choice Based Lettings system.

How long will it take for my application to be processed?

We aim to start processing your application within 10 working days. If we require any further information after this point, we will contact you to ask for this. Once we have received all the required information we will notify you of our decision within 20 days, and if accepted we will activate your account. You can also check your application status online by logging into the DKO portal.

How can I get involved with Livin and help to shape services?

To find out more about the different ways you can get involved, please visit our getting involved section.

Can I apply to buy my home under Right to Buy?

Tenants who have been with Livin since before the transfer from Sedgefield Council in 2009 may have the “Preserved Right to Buy” their property. Full details of the scheme are available on the Government Right to Buy website. If you are thinking of applying, please contact us.

Can I apply to buy my home under Right to Acquire?

If you have been a tenant for 3 or more years you may have the right to buy your property under the Right to Acquire scheme. Full details of the scheme are available on the Government Right to Acquire website. If you are thinking of applying, please contact us.