Pension, Housing Benefit & Savings

Compergirl58

Hi all, 
I've been on UC for a while and have claimed my State Pension which will start soon. I've had to reapply for Housing Benefit too, though not heard back from them yet. My question is: am i allowed to have any small savings at all? Is there a limit on what you can have.  Seeing that i drive i like to put away some money for insurance, mot etc.  

NoMore

probably better on the benefits board

Benefits & tax credits — MoneySavingExpert Forum

marcia_

Compergirl58 said:

Hi all, 
I've been on UC for a while and have claimed my State Pension which will start soon. I've had to reapply for Housing Benefit too, though not heard back from them yet. My question is: am i allowed to have any small savings at all? Is there a limit on what you can have.  Seeing that i drive i like to put away some money for insurance, mot etc.  

 Savings depends on the council you pay to? 

bjorn_toby_wilde

marcia_ said:

Compergirl58 said:

Hi all, 
I've been on UC for a while and have claimed my State Pension which will start soon. I've had to reapply for Housing Benefit too, though not heard back from them yet. My question is: am i allowed to have any small savings at all? Is there a limit on what you can have.  Seeing that i drive i like to put away some money for insurance, mot etc.  

 Savings depends on the council you pay to? 

Does it?

Not an expert but I thought UC and Housing Benefit were nationally set benefits, rather than specific to a council.

zagfles

You can have £6000 in savings without it affecting HB. See Housing Benefit: Eligibility - GOV.UK 

Brie

moved!

Agree that £6k is the limit for savings.  Not sure if getting your SP will reduce any income related benefits.

HillStreetBlues

zagfles said:

You can have £6000 in savings without it affecting HB. See Housing Benefit: Eligibility - GOV.UK 

That's incorrect.
As OP will reach SPA it's £10,000 before affecting HB
If OP can get Guaranteed Pension Credit then there is no capital deduction. 

peteuk

bjorn_toby_wilde said:

marcia_ said:

Compergirl58 said:

Hi all, 
I've been on UC for a while and have claimed my State Pension which will start soon. I've had to reapply for Housing Benefit too, though not heard back from them yet. My question is: am i allowed to have any small savings at all? Is there a limit on what you can have.  Seeing that i drive i like to put away some money for insurance, mot etc.  

 Savings depends on the council you pay to? 

Does it?

Not an expert but I thought UC and Housing Benefit were nationally set benefits, rather than specific to a council.

Housing depends on if rented privately or council/HA and there is a regional difference. Along with room entitlement/family size.

As the OP is now moving from UC to SP they need to apply for HB.

marcia_

bjorn_toby_wilde said:

marcia_ said:

Compergirl58 said:

Hi all, 
I've been on UC for a while and have claimed my State Pension which will start soon. I've had to reapply for Housing Benefit too, though not heard back from them yet. My question is: am i allowed to have any small savings at all? Is there a limit on what you can have.  Seeing that i drive i like to put away some money for insurance, mot etc.  

 Savings depends on the council you pay to? 

Does it?

Not an expert but I thought UC and Housing Benefit were nationally set benefits, rather than specific to a council.

 Yes sorry I didn't read it all properly my answer was partly about council tax lol but I did think pensioners claimed housing benefits not universal credit? 

poppy12345

marcia_ said:

bjorn_toby_wilde said:

marcia_ said:

Compergirl58 said:

Hi all, 
I've been on UC for a while and have claimed my State Pension which will start soon. I've had to reapply for Housing Benefit too, though not heard back from them yet. My question is: am i allowed to have any small savings at all? Is there a limit on what you can have.  Seeing that i drive i like to put away some money for insurance, mot etc.  

 Savings depends on the council you pay to? 

Does it?

Not an expert but I thought UC and Housing Benefit were nationally set benefits, rather than specific to a council.

 but I did think pensioners claimed housing benefits not universal credit? 

That depends on their circumstances. Mixed aged couple rules since 15th May 2019 mean that help with any rent would be through UC. For a single person it would be housing benefit.