Pensioners and benefits
If you are a pensioner, you may be able to get help with your rent and Council Tax.
Pension Credit
Pension Credit is for people aged 60 and over. Most pensioners who get Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit will be able to get Pension Credit.
There are two parts to the Pension Credit
- the guarantee credit, and
- savings credit
It is possible to receive either or a combination of both.
Guaranteed Credit
It guarantees every one aged 60 and over an income of at least:
- £114.45 a week if you are single: or
- £174.05 a week if you have a partner.
This amount may be higher for pensioners with a disability or are responsible for caring for a person with a disability or have certain housing costs - for example, mortgage interest payments.
Savings credit
This is a form of income for pensioners over 65 who have savings or a second pension. The maximum savings credit is:
-
£17.88 for a single customer
-
£23.58 for a couple
You can apply by:
- telephoning free phone 0800 99 1234
- on the Internet at www.thepensionservice.gov.uk or
- in writing to:-
The Pension Service
Hilden House
103 Sankey Street
Warrington
Cheshire WA1 1LA
Change in Circumstances
Changes you must tell us about
If you get Pension Credit and also Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit you must tell us immediately if you have any of the following changes:
If you get Guarantee Credit you must tell us if you have:
- Changes to your tenancy (such as a rent increase)
- Changes to Non-Dependants
- Any time away from home if it is likely to be more than 13 weeks
If you get Savings Credit only you must tell us if you have:
- Change of address
- Changes to your tenancy
- Any time away from home if it is likely to be more than 13 weeks
- Changes to Dependant children
- Changes to the Household composition and Non-Dependants
- Changes to Child Tax Credit
- Changes to Child Benefit
- Capital Over £16,000
- Changes to the income and capital of partners not included in the Pension Credit claim
Changes you must tell the Pension Service about
If you get Pension Credit and also Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit you must tell the Pension service of the following changes in your circumstances.
- Change of address
- Change of name
- Divorce/Separation
- Death of a claimant or partner
- Marriage/living together as husband and wife
- An award of foreign benefit/pension
- An award of Social Security benefit/credit
- Time abroad
- Change in the household composition
- Change in income
- Admittance to hospital/care home
This list is not complete.