Changes to HB eligibility for mixed-age pensioner couples

From 15 May 2019, pensioner couples will only be eligible to start getting HB if either:

• you and your partner have both reached State Pension age;

• one of you has reached State Pension age and started claiming Housing Benefit or Pension Credit (for you as a couple) before 15 May 2019.

If you are not already getting HB on 14 May 2019, you can backdate your claim as you might still be eligible to get it. You can ask for your claim to be backdated to 14 May or before, but you must do this by 13 August 2019.

If you already get HB and you are in a couple you will continue to get it after 15 May 2019, but if your entitlement stops, because your circumstances change for example, you cannot start getting it again until you (or your partner) are eligible under the new rules. If you already get HB and you are single, from 15 May 2019, you will stop getting it if you start living with a partner who is under State Pension age.