Housing Benefit for Pensioner

seven-day-weekend

fed_up_and_stressed wrote: »

OP=Opening poster

Or Opening Post:)

Marisco

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Or Opening Post:)

Or Original Post

Mojisola

Agathena wrote: »

No I dont have savings, but have deferred my pension for 3 years but have been told they ignore this when working out HB.

My Pension is £119.40 but should be topped up with Pension credit.

Is this your state pension?

dodger1

Housing_Benefit_Officer wrote: »

It all depends on how much your State Retirement Pension is going to be.

For 2013/14 the amount the Government state a single pensioner aged 65+ needs to live on is £163.50.

Hi HBO, could you tell me where the £163.50 figure comes from. I thought it was £145.40 as stated here,

http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/state-pension-and-pension-credit-rate-how-much-can-you-get

Or does the £163.50 include other things.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

dodger1 wrote: »

Hi HBO, could you tell me where the £163.50 figure comes from. I thought it was £145.40 as stated here,

http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/state-pension-and-pension-credit-rate-how-much-can-you-get

Or does the £163.50 include other things.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225669/a2-2013__revised_.pdf

Single pensioner under 65 - £145.40

Single pensioner 65+ - £163.50

lukieboy96

Was wondering if people could explain? I keep hearing that people are not affected by bedroom tax if in private rent. Why? I thought everyone had to take account of 1 bed 2 bed etc and allowance

dodger1

Housing_Benefit_Officer wrote: »

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225669/a2-2013__revised_.pdf

Single pensioner under 65 - £145.40

Single pensioner 65+ - £163.50

That's weird, all the government sites and indeed others simply say £145.40 with no mention of the £163.50.

lld01

Agathena wrote: »

Hello

Bit of advise please.
I am due to retire in March. I privately rent a 2 bed flat. Will have no income apart from state pension and a very small pension of around £480pa. I will apply for pension credit and council tax rebate.

My question is will I get the full housing allowance for a 1 bedroom property. I will have to pay something towards this as my rent is about £60 above the LHA for a 1 bed but well below that for a 2 bed.

Need to sort out my finances before I make my final decisions re retiring.

Man thanks

Just to clear up the original question, if you are in receipt of Guaranteed Pension Credit then you will receive the full LHA for your circumstances, assuming you have no non-dependants.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

lukieboy96 wrote: »

Was wondering if people could explain? I keep hearing that people are not affected by bedroom tax if in private rent. Why? I thought everyone had to take account of 1 bed 2 bed etc and allowance

If you are in social housing (i.e. Housing Association or Council owned) and you are a pensioner you are exempt from Bedroom Tax - you can live in a 4 bedroom house and have all your rent paid.

If you rent privately the amount of Housing Benefit received is governed by the LHA rate.

bloolagoon

lukieboy96 wrote: »

Was wondering if people could explain? I keep hearing that people are not affected by bedroom tax if in private rent. Why? I thought everyone had to take account of 1 bed 2 bed etc and allowance

Private rents are awarded an allowance based on rooms awarded. So if you are entitled to 1 bedroom or 2 bedroom rate. Under 35's mainly have the shared accommodation rate. This has been the same for a while. Now theoretically (but very rare in practice) you may find a landlord who will rent a 2 bedroom for the rate of a 1 bedroom, so you get an extra room. I've never seen one advertised that I'd put my dogs in, but it's possible in theory. If your rent is more than your allowance you pay. 70% of rents are over the allowance. This means that often people have to pay even if on full benefits and at correct room rate.