Advice and Benefits

Welcome to Mendip's Advice and Benefits pages.

Please choose from the A-Z list below.

Benefit Fraud Prevention

Mendip District Council is determined to stop people from making fraudulent claims for housing and/or council tax benefit. Within the Financial Client Unit at Mendip District Council is an active anti-fraud unit which investigates all cases where it is suspected that Housing and/or Council Tax benefit has been obtained by fraud.

Benefits Calculator

Complete this online form for an instant benefits estimate.

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 - Backdating

Backdating 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).

Council Tax Benefit - Current Claim

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

Council Tax Benefit - New Claim

You can claim 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)

Council Tax Benefit - Overpayments

When we give you too much benefit, we call it an 'overpayment'. If we give you too much benefit, we will send you a letter.

Council Tax Benefit - Reviews

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

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 - 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 Levels in Mendip 2008-09

Mendip District Council - Total Council Tax Charges 2008-09

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.

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.

Facilities and Services for Homeless People

Information about facilities and services for homeless people.

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.

Advice and Benefits

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