We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
We're aware that dates on the Forum are not currently showing correctly. Please bear with us while we get this fixed, and see Site feedback for updates.

Query about housing and council tax allowance

Candy53
Candy53 Posts: 2,548 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
edited 24 July 2017 pm31 12:48PM in Benefits & tax credits
Hi everyone.

I hope you can help me as I can't find the answer anywhere, even with the council.

My husband retires soon. He is entitled to the full state pension, and they have let him know what he will get. I will be 60, and don't work. There will only be us living here. We live in an HA 3 bed semi. We have no savings and no other income.

He's entitled to guaranteed pension credits but won't know how much he'll get untill he's actually retired. This means though that he will get the full council tax allowance. He should also get full housing allowance.

Then a thought came to me. If the pension age had stayed at 60 I would have been a pensioner too, but what if, as far as the authorities are concerned, I will be classed as being still of working age, will my husband still get the full allowances, or not because of me?

Also, if you don't mind, my daughter heard that if a pensioner receives pension credits they won't have to pay the bedroom tax. Is this correct? Or could I affect that too?


Thanks,
Candy.
What goes around, comes around.

Comments

  • KxMx
    KxMx Posts: 10,830 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I believe that when the household is made up of a pensioner and a non-pensioner, the benefit awards are in favour of the pensioner, so full help.

    Pensioners are also exempt from the bedroom tax.

    I am sure someone more knowledgeable can confirm or deny my statement.
  • Candy53
    Candy53 Posts: 2,548 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Thanks alot. Good news then hopefully.

    Candy
    What goes around, comes around.
  • pmlindyloo
    pmlindyloo Posts: 13,074 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    KxMx wrote: »
    I believe that when the household is made up of a pensioner and a non-pensioner, the benefit awards are in favour of the pensioner, so full help.

    Pensioners are also exempt from the bedroom tax.

    I am sure someone more knowledgeable can confirm or deny my statement.

    Agreed!

    The only thing that may be different from your expectations is whether your rent is paid fully. No bedroom tax but HB will be awarded according to your circumstances.

    Follow the link and use the benefit calculator to see if all of your rent will be paid.

    https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit
  • Candy53
    Candy53 Posts: 2,548 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Ok, thankyou.


    Candy
    What goes around, comes around.
  • Candy53
    Candy53 Posts: 2,548 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Ah, understand it more now. Thanks for your replies because now I get it. So my husband will get everything.
    So, my question can be made different then.

    Because I won't be a pensioner, could they make me pay rent and council tax, even though I haven't an income?

    Candy
    What goes around, comes around.
  • pmlindyloo
    pmlindyloo Posts: 13,074 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Candy53 wrote: »
    Ah, understand it more now. Thanks for your replies because now I get it. So my husband will get everything.
    So, my question can be made different then.

    Because I won't be a pensioner, could they make me pay rent and council tax, even though I haven't an income?

    Candy

    No. You will be added to your husband's pension credit claim. it doesn't matter that you are not of pension credit age. Only the claimant has to be of pension credit age.

    But they will assess you as a couple so any savings/income that you have will be taken into account.
  • Candy53
    Candy53 Posts: 2,548 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    pmlindyloo wrote: »
    No. You will be added to your husband's pension credit claim. it doesn't matter that you are not of pension credit age. Only the claimant has to be of pension credit age.

    But they will assess you as a couple so any savings/income that you have will be taken into account.


    Thanks alot for that, it's put my mind at rest now.


    Candy
    What goes around, comes around.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 348.4K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 452.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 241K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 617.3K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 175.7K Life & Family
  • 254.1K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.