Guaranteed Pension Credit & Claim for Housing Benefit

[CYNthesys]

Can someone clarify please

I always thought that if new claimants for housing benefit were in receipt of Guaranteed Pension Credit the only income evidence they needed to provide the council was a DWP Guranteed Pension Credit letter of entitlement.as this served as a passport to other benefits.
I understand that councils are now asking such claimants for the last 2 months bank statements in addition to their DWP letter of entitlement.
Are councils entitled to Bank statements as well?

[des8]

Re: Guaranteed Pension Credit & Claim for Housing Benefit

This from CAB https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/help-if-on-a-low-income/help-with-your-rent-housing-benefit/
If you are on Pension Credit and you get the guarantee credit (whether on its own or with the savings credit), you will also automatically get the maximum amount of Housing Benefit.

If that is correct , can't see why council require bank statements.


This from Merton Council http://www.merton.gov.uk/advice-benefits/benefits/hb-ctb/benefitspensioners.htm
If you get Guarantee Credit or Guarantee Credit plus Savings Credit, we ignore your income and savings, so we do not need to know about changes to these.

[CYNthesys]

Re: Guaranteed Pension Credit & Claim for Housing Benefit

Thats what I thought as well Des

Think sometimes councils are a law unto themselves, and wonder if there is anything in statute that allows councils to insist on bank statements in such circumstances

[des8]

Re: Guaranteed Pension Credit & Claim for Housing Benefit

I doubt there is anything in statute law.

If one refused to submit bank statements, and the council then withheld HB, I suppose one could make complaint to LGO about mal administration,(or even possibly a county court claim?)

Probably easier & less stressful to submit bank statements, (but not if Equita and Capita run the council accounts dept)