Local Connection

You will be allocated a banding for your current situation after being assessed by us.

Applicants who do not have a local connection will automatically be placed in the general banding. However, you do not necessarily have to be residing in the local area to have a local connection.

Local connection is assessed using the following criteria:

  • Have you lived in the area?

  • Do you have family in the area?

  • Do you work in the area?

  • Other special circumstances?

You usually have to have lived in the area for 6 months out of the last 12, or 3 years out of 5. You may not have a local connection if you have been in prison or hospital as you didn’t choose to live in the area.

You will usually have a local connection if you already have close family living in the area for at least 5 years. Close family includes parents, children, brothers or sisters. It may also include other family members who you have a very close relationship with, such as you were brought up by an aunt or grandparent.

Employment does not have to be full-time and self-employed people can have a local connection if their work is mainly in the area. Employment of a casual nature may not be enough to establish a local connection.

For further information on local connections please see your local authority page