Applying for pension affecting housing benefit?

DaffyDuck316

I really appreciate all of your replies, with special mention to hugheskevi.

This is something that I have let fall under the radar, and the fear of a negative outcome has shadowed over what is looking more likely to be a positive result. I shall take the information you have given to me to my mother, and we'll see what happens. 

DaffyDuck316

p00hsticks said:

itsthelittlethings said:

She should lose her housing benefit and then regain it as I understand it.

Yes, I think you may have to re-apply when you reach State Pension Age

Ah yes, that is what through the spanner in the works, I remember now. My mother was afraid she would not be able to pay the rent if there were any delays between losing the benefit and regaining it

Chid1

Tip for anyone about to claim their state  pension. If you are on Housing Benefit don't put your claim for your state pension in too early. D&G Council have "suspended" my Housing Benefit claim because I put an application in for my State pension - which will not be paid until after 5 January. They seem to be happy to allow my rent to fall into arrears until it is sorted out which means that , meantime, if a suitable home comes up into which I'd like to move, I won't be allowed to because my rent is in arrears. I'm not earning any more than I was the day before the benefit was suspended but they are worried that they might "overpay" me. They cannot tell me when they will sort it out and if it isn't done until my pension comes through will end up over 4 months in arrears of rent. I'm an unpaid carer, not claiming carer's allowance and have a company pension of £267 per month and a charity grant payment of £120 per month. Even after I receive my pension I will still be entitled to an amount of Housing Benefit and will be claiming an an underlying entitlement to carer's - which will increase the amount to which I will be entitled. 
The lesson seems to be to only claim your state pension at the last minute.