Housing Benefit

[Vics128]

Is housing benefit classed as a 'means tested state benefit'?

Thankyou

[jackyp]

yes

[themas]

Yes. If you want to know whether you are eligible, go to www.entitledto.co.uk

[Vics128]

thankyou very much!!

[gammaray]

With housing benefit what they give with one hand they take with the other. for example if you're a pensioner and your pension goes up, your housing benefit goes down by a corresponding amount. This is certainly my mothers experience.

[themas]

Gammaray - its not that simple. If you are on Guaranteed Pension Credit and your State Retirement Pension goes up it does not affect your Housing Benefit if you are still entitled to the Pension Credit. If you are not on the Pension Credit then yes, an increase in State Pension reduces the Housing Benefit - but not by the full amount. I think 65% of the increase comes off the Housing Benefit and another 20% off the Council Tax Benefit if you are entitled to that - so it doesn't leave very much!

[gammaray]

I suspect my mother has over simplified things themas. she does have the capacity to over dramatise things...leaving anyone who cared to listen with the impression that she is hard done by. What she regularly fails to mention however is that she holidays overseas twice a year! usually for a month at a time!