Reaching State Pension Age soon - Income Support/Housing Benefit Question.

BernieLondon

Good evening all

I am reaching State Pension Age this coming September. I already know that my Income Support and Carer's Allowance will be stopped. Thankfully I will be getting a full State Pension but sadly not entitled to Pension Credit.  I am trying to prepare for it all and getting as much information as I can so it can all go smoothly.

I am presently getting Housing Benefit as well as Council Tax Benefit.  I used the Entitled To Benefit Calculator and I will have to pay about 50% towards the rent which did not come as a surprise.

My question(s) are this. When I first applied for Income Support the Housing Benefit was part of the application. I never had to apply to my Local Council for either Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit.  So, in September I have no idea what will happen. Will I need to apply to my Local Council directly? Will my Local Council contact me to tell me how much and when I should pay?

I did try to contact the DWP direct but sadly it was a nightmare trying to get through on the phone.  My Local Council have a ridiculously stupid phone menu system. They appear to have a policy which involves zero chance of having a human being to speak to.

I am a full time carer for my Wife so, as already said, I am hoping for it to go smoothly with the minimum of fuss and stress.

Any help or advice would be very much appreciated.

Peace all.

Rubyroobs

Is your wife under pension age ? If so I would imagine you would need to claim Universal credit instead. Does she claim  contributions based ESA ? 

poppy12345

I assume that your wife is under state pension age. This will mean you'll be what's known as a mixed aged couple so your housing benefit will stop. You will need to claim Universal Credit as a couple and your state pension will be deducted in full from any UC entitlement. 

Your UC will include carers element because you care for her. Your wife will need to make sure she reports her health condition and provide a fit note and this will start the work capability assessment process off. If found to have LCWRA then you'll be entitled to extra money from the 4th month after she provided her first fit note. 

BernieLondon

Thank you for the replies.

My Wife is over state pension age and does receive about 60% of the full state pension. She also receives PIP.

Spoonie_Turtle

With your state pension and your wife's will your weekly income be more than £378.55?  Because if not you should be entitled to some Pension Credit.
Afterthought: this is assuming your wife lives with you.  Even if not though, with the carer premium I can't work out why you wouldn't be entitled to PC, unless you have substantial savings (but can't be too substantial else you'd not currently be eligible for IS or HB) or will have another pension coming in on top of your state pension.

For Housing Benefit if you do have to reapply it will be with your local council, DWP don't deal with Housing Benefit.  (But I don't know how those legacy benefits work, especially when it comes to going from a working age claim to a pension age one.)

BernieLondon

Thank for the reply.  Our combined state pensions total £392.20 so no Pension Credit sadly.  I get the impression it will just be a hopefully simple application via our Local Council for Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit.

pmlindyloo

BernieLondon said:

Thank for the reply.  Our combined state pensions total £392.20 so no Pension Credit sadly.  I get the impression it will just be a hopefully simple application via our Local Council for Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit.

Have you factored in the Carer's Premium (Addition) within your assessment for Pension Credit?  This is worth £45.60 a week so might make you eligible for Pension Credit.

However, not knowing other financial information (savings/other income) it is difficult to be exact.

I suggest you use a benefits calculator.  www.entitledto.co.uk  is usually accurate if you put in the correct information.

HillStreetBlues

Spoonie factored that in £332.95 couple rate & £45.60.
If OP could claim AA then they would be entitled to PC as long as no one else is counted as living with them (capital allowing).

BernieLondon

I finally got through to someone at my Local Council who was very helpful.  

I was informed that the Local Council already know about the pension change etc as the DWP had already contacted them.  So, come September it should be all be fairly straight forward.  Apparently as my Wife is considered "vulnerable" due to a stroke/dementia the Local Council can add a Carer's Premium to any Housing Benefit we are entitled to.  Even though I can not be paid Carer's Allowance I still meet the conditions for entitlement.

Thank you all for the replies.