Council Tax and Housing Benefit
Westmorland and Furness Council strive to provide an efficient and effective service to its customers. We aim too provide best value and focus on customers needs in answering enquiries from customers in person or by telephone.
About Us
Customer Service Centre
The Customer Service point is situated in the Town Hall, Barrow in Furness and access is via the Cornwallis Street entrance. The reception area is open from 9.00 am till 4pm Monday to Friday.
You can also contact us by telephone or by email. For Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction, please email benefits1@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk, and for Council Tax please email counciltax1@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Customer Service Telephone Service
Revenues & Benefits have a dedicated telephone team who answer all general enquiries from members of the public.
General Enquiries Tel 01229 404242,8.30 a.m. till 4.30 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 8.30 a.m. till 4.00 p.m. on a Friday
Benefits Visiting Service
If you wish to claim Benefit/Reduction or need help or advice regarding Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction (including Benefit overpayments), Westmorland and Furness Council offer a Visiting Service providing you are unable to call at the Customer Services in person due to illness, bereavement, disability or are classed as being a vulnerable person. The visiting officer can also check or collect any documents required in connection with your Benefit claim or for Council Tax Reduction purposes.
Please telephone 01229 404242 to arrange a visit.
Final Notice or Summons
Westmorland and Furness Council have special technical officers dealing with those customers who wish to make enquires relating to reminders/summons and would like to make an arrangement to pay any outstanding amounts.
Collection Enquiries Tel 01229 404242
Fraud Hotline
From 1st July 2015 the Council's Housing Benefit fraud was transferred to the Department of Work and Pensions.
You can report Housing Benefit fraud in three ways:
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BY Telephone - Contact the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440. Your call is free and confidential you do not have to give your name or address. Lines are open Monday to Friday 8.00am to 6.00pm
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Online at - www.gov.uk/report-benefit-fraud
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BY Post - NBFH, PO Box 224, Preston PR1 1GP
Council Tax fraud can still be reported via the Council's confidential free phone hotline (anonymously if you prefer). The hotline number is 0800 389 2330