Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit for older people
Rules for pensionable age customers claiming benefits
Benefit start dates
If you or your partner are at pensionable age and make a claim for Housing and/or Council Tax Benefit, we can backdate your benefit up to three months before the date that you claim (as long as you were entitled to benefit for that period). We can award this automatically; unlike backdating for working age claimants, you do not need to give us reasons why.
If we require extra information about your income or rent during the backdating period, we will write to you.
Savings
If you receive Guarantee Pension Credit
There is no savings limit for claiming benefit. While you receive the Guarantee Credit you will be entitled to maximum Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (less any deductions for non-dependants).
Pensioners who do not receive Guarantee Pension Credit
The following rules apply to pensioners who do not receive Guarantee Pension Credit:
| Savings amount | Effect on entitlement |
|---|---|
|
£10,000 or less |
No effect on entitlement |
|
£10,000.01 to £16,000 |
Tariff income applies |
|
£16,000.01 and over |
No entitlement to housing benefit or council tax benefit |
For savings over £10,000, a tariff income of £1 per week is assumed as part of your weekly income for every £500 or part £500 of savings that you have. This figure would be added to your weekly income figure when your claim for benefit is assessed.
Example: If you have savings of £12,000, the tariff income would be £4 per week.
