Pension Credit/Housing Benefit

[chrissa1]

I have applied fo HB and this being held up because the PC is taking time to come through. Would it be better for me to let the HB go ahead without the PC being taken into consideration or is it better for me to wait? I want to get as much Housing Benefit as I can obviously. Thanks.

[chrissa1]

Thank you for your apology R1Geezer. It's accepted.

[chrissa1]

Thank you very much Eddie51.

[themas]

Chrissa

I think this is correct, but suggest you ask your local council housing benefits dept.:

1. If you get the guarantee element of pension credit then you will be entitled to full housing benefit from the date the pension credit is paid from.

2. If you are already getting some housing benefit (an amount less than the full amount) when the pension credit award is notified then the council revise the housing beneift award backdated to the date from which the pension credit is paid.

3. So I don't think this is an either/or situation. If the council process your housing benefit claim now & start paying you the amount should be adjusted (if necessary) when the pension credit is decided.

4. Note that "full housing benefit" does not necessarily mean it will pay all of the rent. The amount to be paid depends on some quite complex rules relating to the size of property you are deemed to need & the maximum payable for that size in your area.

5. I'm sure you are not flush with money so assume you need the housing benefit as quickly as possible in order to keep the rent up to date so - if the council confirm what I'v said above - get them to decide on your claim without delay.

6. Incidentally, have you yet reached the state pension age? I ask because you say you are 60, but the age has now started to go up (another set of complex rules!) & you can't get pension credit until you reach whatever the age now is.

[chrissa1]

Thank you very much Themas. I reached the age of 60 in October so I became "pensionable age" on 6th May. All I am getting now is the State Pension. I have to ring the Pension Credit people on Wednesday if I haven't heard anything from them before that.