Benefits and support How your capital (savings and investments) affects your Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support

How much capital can I have?

If you have a partner we add your capital together to work out your benefit. The total affects your benefit as follows:

  • £6,000 or less does not affect your benefit at all if you are 'working age' - below the qualifying age for State Pension Credit.
  • £10,000 or less does not affect your benefit at all if you or your partner are above the qualifying age for State Pension Credit. 
  • Between £6,000 and £16,000 - the rules say we must assume that you earn income from your capital. This affects how much benefit you get. How we work it out 
  • Over £16,000 - you can't get benefit unless you or your partner have reached the qualifying age for State Pension Credit and one of you gets the guaranteed part of Pension Credit but you may still be able to get Second Adult Rebate to help with your Council Tax.

Find your State Pension Credit qualifying age.