•There is no upper capital limit for PC.

•Generally, you are not eligible for pension-age HB if your total capital is over £16,000. However, if you get the guarantee credit of PC, there is no capital limit for HB because all your capital is ignored.

•If you have capital over £10,000, this affects the amount of PC or HB you get because it is assumed that your capital gives you some income – called ‘deemed income’.

•Capital includes your and your partner’s savings, investments and property. Some kinds of capital are ignored when working out your PC or HB – eg, the value of the home in which you live.

•If you deliberately get rid of capital in order to get more benefit, you are treated as still having it.