People Over 60
Link to Pensions Service website
Capital rules
If you are in receipt of Guarantee Pension Credit there is no savings limit for claiming Benefit. Whilst you receive the Guarantee Credit you will be entitled to maximum Housing and Council Tax Benefit (less deductions for non dependants).
The following capital rules apply to pensioners who do not receive the Guarantee Pension Credit:
| Saving amount (age over 60) | Effect on entitlement |
£6,000 or less | No effect on entitlement |
£6,000.01 to £16,000 | Tariff income applies |
£16,000.01 and over | No entitlement to housing benefit or council tax benefit |
For savings over £6,000 tariff income of £1 per week is assumed as part of your weekly income - i.e £1 per week is added onto your weekly income for every £500 or part £500 of savings you hold over £6,000.
Example: If you have savings of £7,000 the tariff income would be £2 per week.
This figure would be added to your weekly income figure when your claim for benefit is assessed.
Non Dependant Deductions
A non dependant is a person aged 18 or over who lives in your home or uses your home as their main residence on a non commercial basis. They do not have to be a family member.
From 4 April 2005:
If your non dependant is receiving any type of Pension Credit there will be no non dependant deduction for that person.
If you or your partner are aged 65 years or over and your non dependant has a change in their circumstances which will result in an increase in their non dependant deduction, the increase in the deduction will be deferred for 26 weeks.
Benefit Start Dates for people of Pension Credit Age
When Pension Credit was introduced in October 2003, Pension Credit claims made between 6 October 2003 and 5 October 2004 (known as the take-on period) could be treated as made on 6 October 2003. The same provision was made in relation to claims for Housing Benefit / Council Tax Benefit from pensioners.
What happened after 5 October 2004?
From 6th October 2004 the time limit for claiming Housing Benefit / Council Tax Benefit was extended for up to 12 months for people of Pension Credit age (i.e. 60).
Example: A person would be entitled to Housing Benefit / Council Tax Benefit on 6 December 2004 and has reached the qualifying age for Pension Credit (60 yrs) on or before that date. They would have 12 months and one day in which to claim, ie until 6 December 2005. |
This is unlike normal Housing Benefit backdate rules. Backdate rules state that ‘good cause’ needs to be shown before backdating of a claim can be considered. As this rule does not fall into the same category, ‘good cause’ for backdating a late claim does not have to be shown in this instance.
To apply for Housing Benefit contact Revenues and Benefits Tel (0116) 252 7006
If you need general information on claiming Housing and Council Tax Benefits as a pensioner, including in other languages, please visit