Advice and Benefits

Acupuncture, Tattooing, Ear-piercing and Electrolysis Registration

Licences for registration of persons and premises for acupuncture, tattooing, ear-piercing and electrolysis.

Backdating and Take On Period - Housing Benefit and or Council Tax Benefit

Backdating Housing Benefit and or Council Tax Benefit means that we award benefit for a period before the date when you actually made your claim. To receive backdated benefit you must have good reasons for not making an earlier claim (e.g. a serious illness or a bereavement).

Benefit forms available to download

All forms currently available to download

Benefits - What's New?

Benefit changes in the last 12 months that may affect you and your claim

Benefits (Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit)

Mendip District Council administers both Housing Benefit (HB) and Council Tax Benefit (CTB). A brief description of HB and CTB and who may qualify for these benefits.

Benefits Calculator

Complete this online form for an instant benefits estimate.

Benefits Services - Service Standards

The Benefit Service is responsible for the delivery and administration of Housing and/or Council Tax Benefit claims for residents of the Mendip district. This Service is carried out in line with legislation and guidelines provided by the Department for Work and Pensions. The Service also provides details of various other benefits that are available in order to ensure minimal hardship to its residents.

Burials and Cremations - Burials

Mendip District Council provides cemeteries in the following location:

• Street (Cemetery Lane)
• Shepton Mallet (Waterloo Road)
• Frome (Warminster Road)

Burials and Cremations - Buying a Grave

The popular belief that the actual grave itself is purchased is incorrect. The purchaser only acquires a right of burial within a grave for a specific period.

Burials and Cremations - Exhumations

The Council do not carry out the exhumation of graves within their cemeteries but will give advice on obtaining the Home Office Licence required.

Burials and Cremations - Historical Records

More and more people are interested in researching family histories but searching burial records for information can be a time consuming process.

Burials and Cremations - Memorials

A memorial is a marker (usually of stone) erected over a grave commonly thought of as a headstone or gravestone.

Burials and Cremations - Welfare Funerals

If a person dies in the Mendip area, it may fall to the Council to arrange a public funded burial. Ultimately the local authority has a duty to bury or cremate someone who has nobody to arrange a funeral for him or her. We are usually called upon where people have died without family on friends to make the necessary arrangements.

Council Tax - Appeals Against Banding

Since 1 December 1993 there are only limited occasions when taxpayers can challenge their Council Tax banding.

Council Tax - Common Questions

Common questions and answers regarding Council Tax.

Council Tax - Discounts and Exemptions

Discounts on your council tax are available if only one person is living in the dwelling, or if the other people living there can be disregarded for council tax purposes.

Council Tax - Methods of Payment

How to Pay your Council Tax.

Council Tax - Paying Your Bill

A quick guide to the details of your Council Tax bill and how you can pay it.

Council Tax and Finance - Assessment of Charge

There are five main components to your council tax bill. These are the Special Expenses Rate and the Parish Charge which will both vary from one parish to another.

Council Tax and Finance - General Information

An outline guide to the laws and procedures that govern council tax.

Council Tax and Finance - Valuation Bands

The Valuation Office Agency give a "Banding Value" for each dwelling.

Council Tax Benefit

If you pay Council Tax for your home, and live on a low income, you may be able to get some help by claiming benefit. The amount of benefit you will receive depends on who lives with you, the amount of money you have coming in, any other benefits you receive and any savings you have.

Council Tax Discount - Apprentices

Application for Council Tax Discount - Apprentices

Council Tax Discount - Care Workers

Application for a Council Tax Discount - Care Workers

Council Tax Discount - Carers

Application for Council Tax Discount - Carers

Council Tax Discount - Empty Properties

Application for Council Tax Discounts - Empty Properties

Council Tax Discount - Members of Religious Communities

Application for Council Tax Discount - Members of Religious Communities

Council Tax Discount - Persons in Detention

Application for a Council Tax Discount - Persons in Detention

Council Tax Discount - Reduction for Disability

Appliaction for Councli Tax Discount - Reduction for Disability

Council Tax Discount - Residents in Hospitals/Homes/Hostels

Application for Council Tax Discount - Persons Resident in Hospitals/Homes/Hostels

Council Tax Discount - Self Contained Part of Property Occupied by a Dependant Relative

Council Tax Discount - Self Contained Part of Property Occupied by a Dependant Relative

Council Tax Discount - Severe Mental Impairment

Application for Council Tax Discount - Severe Mental Impairment

Council Tax Discount - Sole or Main Residence Questionnaire

Application for Council Tax Discount - Sole or Main Residence Questionnaire

Council Tax Discount - Students

Application for Council Tax Discount - Students

Council Tax Discount - Under 20s in Full Time Education

Application for a Council Tax Discount - Under 20s in Full Time Education

Council Tax Discount - Youth Training Scheme

Application for Council Tax Discount - Youth Training Trainees

Council Tax Liability

Council Tax can only be charged on a 'chargeable dwelling' (usually a building or part of a building used as a private residence), and there are rules to determine who is liable for the payment.

Current Claim - Housing Benefit and or Council Tax Benefit

If you currently receive Housing Benefit and or Council Tax Benefit and there is a change in any of your personal circumstances, you must let us know as soon as possible.

External Funding

To assist local groups in their search for funding the Council has taken a subscription to GRANTNET, a straightforward free to use service which can help you identify what funding is available for your activity or project.

Health and Safety - Complaints

Complaints about working conditions are always investigated sensitively and the complainant's confidentiality is assured. Such matters are usually resolved by giving advice to the employer, but as with accident investigations, if formal action is deemed necessary then this will be taken.

Housing Options Team - General Information and Advice

Who we are and what we do

Housing Options Team - Out of Hours Service, Night Shelters and Direct Access Hostels

Information about facilities and services for homeless people.

Housing Options Team - Shared Ownership (New Build Homebuy)

New Build Homebuy, formerly Shared Ownership, in Mendip.

Licences - Hackney Carriage / Private Hire Vehicle Driver's Licence

The Council licences persons who are deemed to be 'fit and proper' to be hackney carriage / private hire vehicle drivers.

Licences - Private Hire Vehicle

Licensing of private hire vehicles referred to as 'minicabs'.

Local Housing Allowance

On 17th October 2002 the government announced a programme of reform the aim of which was to simplify the Housing Benefit scheme.

Local Housing Allowance Rates For Previous Months

Local Housing Allowance Rates For Previous Months

Memorial Safety Checks in Mendip Cemeteries

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires councils to ensure that memorials are safe and so reduce the potential for injury to those working in or visiting its cemeteries.

New Claim - Housing and Council Tax Benefit

You can claim Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit if you are on Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance, or if you are on a low income (this includes people who are self employed)

Prevention and Detection of Benefit Fraud

An introduction to the prevention and detection of housing benefit and council tax benefit fraud

Purchasing Process

The Council has 'rules' (contained in the "Contract Procedure Rules ") laid down which regulates all purchases.

Revenues Service - Service Standards

The Revenues Service is responsible for managing Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rates for the residents and businesses of the Mendip district. This Service is carried out in line with the legislation and guidelines provided by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Reviews - Housing Benefit and or Council Tax Benefit

As part of the Government's Housing Benefit Reform the Council is no longer required to issue renewal claim forms.

Somerset County Council - Community Services for Adults and Older People

Information and contact details relating to Community Services for Adults and Older People provided by Somerset County Council.

Somerset County Council - Trading Standards

Trading Standards are not dealt with by Mendip District Council as it is a Somerset County Council function.

Somerset Recession Impact Task Group

Preventing homelessness in Somerset due to the recession.

Street Collection Licence

Street collections and house to house collections may not be done without prior permission from the Council.

Tourism in Mendip

Mendip offers a magical blend of history and legend with Roman, Iron age and medieval remains and associations with King Arthur. The district has varied landscapes ranging from the Mendip hills to the Somerset Levels.

Transport - Information for Visitors

Information for visitors to the Mendip district.

Voluntary Sector Funding

Mendip District Council offers financial support to Voluntary Sector Organisations who provide services that assist the authority in delivering its Corporate Plan priorities.