Housing benefits
Contents
- Introduction
- Backdated claims
- Calculate and claim housing benefit and council tax reduction
- Change in circumstances
- Council tax reduction review
- How we assess your benefit
- How we assess your savings
- How your benefit is paid
- Local housing allowance rates
- Money coming in to your household
- Pension credit for mixed aged couples
- Reduced housing benefit
- Rent you are charged
- Your personal circumstances
How we assess your savings
Aged 65 or less
If you (and your partner) are aged 65 or less and your total capital is more than £6000, for every unit of £250, or part unit, £1 is added to your weekly income.
For example:
Capital held £6950. The first £6000 is disregarded but there are three units of £250 (£750) and one part unit (£200) remaining so £4 is added to your total weekly income.
If you and your partner's combined savings exceed £16,000 you will not qualify for benefit.
Aged 66+
If you (and your partner) are aged 66 or over and your total capital is over £10,000, for every unit of £500, or part unit, £1 is added to your weekly income.
For example:
Capital held £11,000. The first £10,000 is disregarded but there are two units of £500 remaining so £2 is added to your total weekly income.
For claimants who qualify for pension credit the following capital rules apply:
- Entitled to guarantee credit: no capital limit.
- Entitled to combined guarantee and savings credit: no capital limit.
- Entitled to savings credit only: £16,000 upper limit applies.
For claimants who have no entitlement to Pension Credit the £16,000 capital applies.
