I married my now ex wife in 2008 but she did not come to the UK until some 15 months later and I had then retired and received some help with my rent from housing benefit since retiring.

I went to the council department and asked what should happen; they said I was entitled to more housing benefit as a married couple living in the flat, and that my wife could not receive benefits made no difference to the housing benefit unless she was working and they would then take her wage into account.

We were together only a few weeks before she moved to live with her friends anyhow but I did wonder myself if this was correct
Mick.