Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit

for those aged over 60

The Government has introduced Pension Credits  from 6^th October 2003  so 

How do Pension Credits affect my housing benefit and Council Tax Benefit? 

Extra Housing and Council tax Benefit 

Customers over 60 receiving Pension Credits will not lose any Housing or Council Tax Benefit as a result because the calculation of Housing/Council Tax Benefit has been adjusted. 

In addition, all Housing and/or Council Tax Benefit customers over 65 receiving less than full Housing/Council Tax Benefit, should receive an increase due to changes introduced with Pension Credits. 

Changes in Circumstances 

If you receive Pension Credits the Pension Service will tell us about your income and savings, which they call your Assessed Income and we will use this information to adjust your Housing/Council Tax Benefit. If you have any income not included in this assessment you will need to let us know. 

 The Pension Service will also fix an Assessment Income Period for people over 65, during which you do not have to tell them or us of changes in your Retirement Income, only changes in family circumstances or awards of another state benefit.  People aged between 60-65 will still have to advise the Pension Service of changes in income. 

But  you do have to tell Wealden District Council  about :-

• changes to your tenancy

• periods away from home for more than 13 weeks

• changes affecting the income or family circumstances of anyone else who lives with you apart from your partner

• changes to any income such as earnings, or capital not included in the Pension Credit calculation of Assessed Income and, if you are receiving Savings Credit only, you must tell us if your capital exceeds £16000 

How do I get my Pension Credit ? 

The Pension Service will be sending all pensioners an application form for Pension Credit over the next few months and any award can be backdated to 6^th October 2003.

Applications for Pension Credit can also be made by phoning the Pension Credit Helpline on 0800 991234 or by applying on-line at The Pension Service