Claiming Housing Benefit - Pensioners

Housing Benefit is means-tested and you can make a claim if you meet any of the following criteria:

You pay rent to Ashford Borough Council;
You pay rent to a private landlord;
You pay rent to a housing association;
You are a boarder whose rent includes meals;
You live in a hostel;
You live in a mobile home or houseboat;
You pay a mortgage and rent for your home under a shared ownership arrangement. Please note, housing benefit can only be calculated in respect of the rent you pay;
If you are a joint tenant with one or more others we can help pay your share of the rent.

Who isn’t eligible for Housing Benefit

You will not be entitled to any housing benefit if you meet any of the following criteria:

Either you, or your partner, or both of you together, have more than £16,000 in savings (unless you get pension credit guarantee credit);
You used to own the property that you now rent;
You are temporarily living away from your usual home
You pay rent to a close relative, who lives in the same property as you;
You live in the home as part of your job;
You are an asylum seeker, unless you've been given refugee status or indefinite or exceptional leave;

If you are away from your property for more than 4 weeks, this may affect your entitlement – you need to let the council know e.g. going abroad or a trial period in a nursing home.