Benefits application process

Have you tried speaking to Age UK?

I am a little puzzled. You say you are claiming your state pension? If so you could claim pension credit for housing costs if you are renting or have a mortgage.

You can claim council tax reduction if you live alone, which I am supposing you do. You can claim this anyway regardless of being a pensioner. I found out I'd been paying too much for years and the rebate added up to being council tax free for a whole year!

I think (but don't know for sure) that you will have to apply in arrears. My experience is that money the government owes you is paid in areas but money you owe the government (ie Tax) is paid in advance!

Not sure this helps but I wish you luck.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sorry post in error ignore that!

I think you are wise to get ahead.

Councils vary but it's likely they will ask to see the accounts for the last financial year.

If you ring the council with your questions the are usually very helpful and clear. They can also tell you when to apply. If you were applying before prior to getting SP you could apply 17 weeks before and if you were applying, say before moving into a new home, you could apply 8 weeks before you are first responsible for the council tax. That seems to make it well worth asking.

You will have to provide 3 months of bank statements, however there is space on the form to explain anything you want to clarify, that is where you can explain about a previous income and any large amounts that are due to come out of your bank account.

keepingquiet - you are mixing up council tax discount (for single dwellers) which is not means-tested and and council tax benefit which is - two different things.

Jinster. When claiming you need to make clear the date that your income from working ceased and that that is why you are now applying for help.

I guess a P45 will be a useful piece of evidence that your income from employment has ended.

Do you receive the new state pension or the old one? If the new SP, it’s my understanding that it puts you above the threshold for claiming pension credit, but I’m not an expert in these matters.

Thanks Flittermouse. I didn't know there was such a thing as council tax benefit. Must look it up!

Also Barleyfields OP says she is almost 70 so will be the new SP.

Barleyfields

Do you receive the new state pension or the old one? If the new SP, it’s my understanding that it puts you above the threshold for claiming pension credit, but I’m not an expert in these matters.

Yes I agree..not sure why OP is thinking she should receive benefits if receiving the SP and has small works pension..
Age UK will do telephone assessment for any eligible benefits

keepingquiet

Thanks Flittermouse. I didn't know there was such a thing as council tax benefit. Must look it up!

Also Barleyfields OP says she is almost 70 so will be the new SP.

It is often called Council Tax Support keepingquiet, but again the can vary from council to council.

Jinster2 It sounds as though you are in a very similar position to me.

If you're receiving the new full state pension, it's unlikely you'll receive much help with your council tax. I expect you've already worked out how much help you can receive with your rent, based on your local housing allowance.

When I first applied, I had to provide three months' bank statements (as Elowen33 wrote) and I wrote a note that my income was due to stop. I was self-employed and it was during lockdown, so my work just dried up overnight. At nearly 70, I think you have a very good reason to give up work and (hopefully) you'll be believed.

I'm afraid I did have to wait a few weeks before I was paid anything, so you might need to grit your teeth (and tighten your belt) for a while. When it was worked out, the payments were backdated to the date I first applied, so it's worth applying as soon as you can and state the date you are giving up work.

Hopefully, they will reply soon to let you know what's going on. If you're absolutely destitute, it might be worth asking if you would be eligible for some kind of crisis loan, which you'd have to pay back, but at least you'd have some money to pay your rent, etc.

Pension Credit is entirely separate from Housing Benefit for pensioners. It's also separate from council Tax Support.

Please be careful that your "think you know" does not mislead someone into not claiming. It is far better that you pursued someone to claim and them not get it this time than your post stops someone claiming when they could have received the help.

Okay. Fact: you can still be eligible for Council Tax relief even if you're receiving the state pension but not Pension Credit.

Council Tax relief in the form of discounts or reductions is available to people on a low income, and eligibility is based on income and circumstances rather than just whether or not you receive Pension Credit. Some ways you may be eligible for Council Tax reduction include:

Council Tax Support (CTS): This is a means-tested benefit that helps people on low income or certain benefits pay their Council Tax. You don't need to receive Pension Credit to qualify for CTS.

Single Person Discount: If you live alone, you might qualify for a 25% discount on your Council Tax, regardless of whether you receive Pension Credit or not.

Local Discounts or Exemptions: Some councils offer additional discounts or exemptions based on specific circumstances, such as being of state pension age or having a disability.

Bea65

Barleyfields

Do you receive the new state pension or the old one? If the new SP, it’s my understanding that it puts you above the threshold for claiming pension credit, but I’m not an expert in these matters.

Yes I agree..not sure why OP is thinking she should receive benefits if receiving the SP and has small works pension..
Age UK will do telephone assessment for any eligible benefits

I don't think the op does have a works pension.

Bea65

Barleyfields

Do you receive the new state pension or the old one? If the new SP, it’s my understanding that it puts you above the threshold for claiming pension credit, but I’m not an expert in these matters.

Yes I agree..not sure why OP is thinking she should receive benefits if receiving the SP and has small works pension..
Age UK will do telephone assessment for any eligible benefits

She doesn't have a small works pension.

OP said she had a small pension and recd SP ??perhaps clarification is needed… either way, Age Uk are very helpful

I can’t see a reference to any pension other than ‘my pension’ which I take to mean the SP, and if that’s the new SP which is considerably more than the old one, then as I understand it that is in excess of the benefits threshold. However as I have already said I have no expertise in this area.

Just because someone is 70 doesn't mean they automatically get new State Pension. Even if they do, if they have ever been in a company pension scheme and were contracted out of SERPS, they are unlikely to receive the full new State Pension as it will be reduced because of that:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-state-pension-if-youve-been-contracted-out-of-additional-state-pension/the-new-state-pension-transition-and-contracting-out-fact-sheet

It's a fallacy that everyone born after 5 April 1953 receives full new State Pension.

I am a few months off 70 and my pension is calculated under the pre 2016 rules. I do not receive £221.20 a week even though I worked and paid NIC for 50 years.

I agree with PoliticsNerd. Always check and don't be mislead by what other people think or say. They are often wrong.

When all the furore over the withdrawal of WFP was at its height, especially from those who are just over the threshold for Pension Credit, I used the turn2us calculator to see what help there was for someone with only £221.20 SP per week and no other income.

I own my own home with no mortgage in council tax band F. The calculator asks for the postcode so it can check what council tax I pay. It tells me I could claim Council Tax Support of £43.48 per week or £2,260 a year towards a bill of £2300 so I would only have to pay £40 CT from my SP.

My understanding from the OP is that her income currently is from her business plus State Pension (which she could have claimed at 66).

She is now retiring from work and has already used a benefits calculator which tells her that she will be entiteld to HB and CT support.

I don't understand why people are telling her she won't be entitled to this and that. She knows what her income will be once she is no longer working.

Bea65

OP said she had a small pension and recd SP ??perhaps clarification is needed… either way, Age Uk are very helpful

Sorry, you're right. I didn't read it properly (I'm half-asleep). Even so, if it's a very small pension, she could still be eligible for Housing Benefit. I receive a small pension, but get Housing Benefit, but no Pension Credit or Council Tax Support.

She could have received state pension at 66 and still be working.

FlitterMouse I don't know why you're not receiving the new state pension. I'm 69 and 9 months and I receive the new state pension - admittedly not the full amount because I was contracted out, too.

Barleyfields

I can’t see a reference to any pension other than ‘my pension’ which I take to mean the SP, and if that’s the new SP which is considerably more than the old one, then as I understand it that is in excess of the benefits threshold. However as I have already said I have no expertise in this area.

It's in excess of the threshold for Pension Credit, but Housing Benefit is calculated separately.