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Capital rules for means tested benefitsupper savings limit
lower savings limit
tariff income
These capital rules apply if you claim income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, housing benefit or council tax benefit.
We also have information on capital rules for other benefits .
You cannot get benefit if your capital or savings (or you and your partner's capital or savings) is above a set upper limit.
For income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit the upper savings limit is £16,000.
Your benefit will be affected if your capital or savings (or you and your partner's capital or savings) is above a set lower limit.
For income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit the lower savings limit is £6,000. If you are permanently in a care home this lower limit is £10,000.
If your capital is between the lower and upper limits, a ‘tariff income’ is assumed. One pound a week for every £250 (or part of £250) above the lower limit is included as your income.
For example, for income support, if you have capital of between £6,250.01 and £6,500, £2 a week is included as your income. Each time capital gets into the next block of £250 (even by as little as one penny) an additional £1 is included as income.
If you or your partner are aged 60 or over and are getting housing benefit or council tax benefit and not claiming income support or income-based jobseeker's allowance your assumed tariff income is one pound a week for every £500 (or part of £500) above the lower limit.
