DWP State Pensioners rent help available - unless savings tops key limit

Approximately 13 million people who have reached the State Pension age in the UK could be eligible for additional assistance with their rent. Local authorities nationwide offer a variety of extra support for living costs to qualifying older people.

This includes Housing Benefit, which helps cover rent for those no longer in employment. If you're single or both you and your partner have reached the State Pension Age, you can apply for Housing Benefit.

Even if only one person in a couple has reached the State Pension age, they may still be able to claim as long as they started claiming Pension Credit before 15 May 2019. Here we have pulled together a comprehensive guide on how much you could receive from Housing Benefit and how to apply.

How much help you'll get through Housing Benefit

The amount of Housing Benefit you can receive depends on numerous factors, such as your rent, whether you have any spare rooms, your savings, and the type of property you live in.

Council or social housing

Depending on your circumstances, Housing Benefit could cover part or all of your rent. Moreover, there is no minimum or maximum limit for Housing Benefit and the amount you receive will depend on whether you rent privately or from a council.

Bear in mind that Housing Benefit is calculated based on your 'eligible rent'. This represents the amount of rent you pay plus any service charges, such as communal laundry facilities, but excludes general services like water or heating.

Private renting

If you're renting privately, your eligible rent will be either the complete rent you pay, or your Local Housing Allowance rate, whichever is the smaller amount. Your age, any medical conditions, and savings might influence how much Housing Benefit you're entitled to when renting privately.

Things that can reduce your Housing Benefit

Spare bedroom

If you're living in council or social housing, you might find your benefit cut. At present the reduction is 14% of your eligible rent for one extra bedroom or 25% for two or more additional bedrooms.

Official government guidance offers the following example to demonstrate how this cut would operate: "Your eligible rent is £100 per week, but you have 1 spare bedroom. That means your eligible rent is reduced by 14%, to £86 per week. Your Housing Benefit will be calculated using that figure."

Where more than one person resides in the property, even if there are multiple bedrooms, it is anticipated that an adult couple, two children under 16 of the same gender, or two children under the age of 10 regardless of gender, will share a bedroom. Savings.

Savings

Typically, if you have savings exceeding £16,000, you will not be eligible for Housing Benefit. The only exception to this rule applies to those of State Pension age who receive the Guarantee Credit of Pension Credit.

Moreover, if your savings fall between £6,000 and £16,000, your Housing Benefit may be reduced. This is due to the council presuming that these savings generate an income which could affect your benefits.

How to make a claim for Housing Benefit

Before making a claim for Housing Benefit, you may need to find some evidence and information to help support it. This can include evidence of:

• How much rent you pay
• Whether anything else is included in the rent, such as water, gas or electricity charges
• If you pay any service charges, including building maintenance or insurance
• Your landlord or agent's details

This can be provided through your most recent payslips, bank statements from the last two full months, proof of investments and shares, as well as proof for anyone living with you. You will also need to provide two of the following:

• UK photocard driving licence
• Current passport
• Birth or marriage certificate
• Certificate of registration or naturalisation
• Permanent residence card
• Letter from HMRC or the Home Office
• Recent utility bill
• Recent bank or building society statement
• Recent benefit award statements

You can apply for Housing Benefit through your local council or as part of a Pension Credit claim. If you're not sure which local council to contact, you can enter in your postcode here and be given all the relevant information.