Vale of White Horse District Council
Abbey House, Abbey Close,
Abingdon, OX14 3JE
Email: comments@whitehorsedc.gov.uk
Telephone: 01235 520202

Vale of White Horse District Council

Factors which may affect your benefit claim

A number of factors may affect your benefit claim, including:

• The number of people in your household
• Your savings
• Your age
• Your income 
• Your rental payments. 

Any details we request from you are confidential and will only be used to calculate your benefit or to advise you about other grants or services you may be entitled to. 

Household         

This means anyone who lives with you in your house. This can be young children, grown up children, relatives, your spouse or partner. These people and their income affects your benefit so we ask you for their details.     

Savings    

Capital and savings includes land, and property (other than the home you live in) as well as stocks, shares, bonds, Post Office, bank and building society accounts, cash and money in current accounts.

If you and any partner/spouse have savings or capital of more than £16,000  you are, in most cases, not entitled to housing or Council Tax benefit. Please ask us for further advice if this situation applies to you and see below if you are aged over 60 AND are entitled to Guaranteed Pension Credit.

People aged under 60

The first £6,000 of your capital is disregarded (i.e. not counted in the benefit calculation) but for every £250 or part thereof above £6,000, we must add £1 to your weekly income when we work out your benefit. This is called the "tariff income".

People aged 60 and over 

The first £6,000 of your capital is disregarded but for every £500 or part thereof above this sum, we must add £1 to your weekly income when we work out your benefit. If you are entitled to Guaranteed Pension Credit  from the Pension Service, you may still qualify for Housing and Council Tax Benefit even if your savings are over £16,000. This does NOT apply, however, to people who are entitled to Savings Credit only and the capital limit of £16,000 still applies. You can make a claim for Pension Credit by telephoning free on 0800 991234. 

Income     

This can be wages, pensions, other benefits, any regular or other income coming in. We need details from payslips because not all income counts. If you pay for childcare or if you have income from any disability benefit this can affect your claim.  This can be complicated so please contact us or call in at a Local Service Point for advice.     

If you or your partner are self-employed, we will need to see your most recent accounts, or you can complete our self-employed form which will allow us to estimate your income and expenditure. This form can be downloaded from the right of the page.

Rent

We will ask you for proof of the rent you pay. If your rent is very high or your house is larger than your family needs you may not get all of this paid by housing benefit. If in doubt ask us for advice about this.