savings and housing benefit

Oldernotwiser

googoomae wrote: »

As the writer of this thread I would like to comment on a coupe of points.
1/ Yes we do have 24K savings but this is for our old age and for our kids if they need it for college etc. So you can see that 'a substantial amount of 24K' isn't so substantial!!

Savings are savings; it's not up to you to say that they're not real savings because you've earmarked them for a particular purpose!

seven-day-weekend

As ONW says, they are savings, it makes no difference what you have earmarked them for, the Benefits Agency will just look at the amount.

Otherwise the taxpayers would be subsidising new cars, new kitchens and exotic holidays!

PolishBigSpender

raq wrote: »

true yes but when you read posts like this particular person and the state the country is in with every tom , !!!!!! and harry coming into this country you can't blame them.

Ah, the old 'let's blame immigrants for our problems' type.

You know that people are free to go and claim benefits in other EU countries? For instance, you're free to come and use our Polish system. It's a pretty bad system, granted (12 months of ZUS contributions required before it pays anything!) - but you're still free to come and exploit it.

real1314

googoomae wrote: »

If you earning over 700 a week with a working wife your fine, if you a single parent who keeps pumping out more kids your even better off. If you joe bloggs with a half decent job with your wife at home looking after the kids and £24,000 in the bank, your stuffed!!
Thank you for all of your replies, we are not dole bludgers honestly! Just think it's unfair that's all.......

Look, the thing is, lots of people have less than you and do not get any help. It's really very easy to identify what people see as "not much savings" - it's a bit more than they have got.

You say £24k is fine, I'd say a lot less. You say "some of it's for the kids / pension / whatever" I'd say, some people pay tax and can't save the amount you have on your £34k a year income. You might not be dole bludgers, but you certainly want someone else to sub you even though they work as hard as you and pay tax like you do.

OrkneyStar

googoomae wrote: »

1/ Yes we do have 24K savings but this is for our old age and for our kids if they need it for college etc. So you can see that 'a substantial amount of 24K' isn't so substantial!!

Savings are money that you have access to, no matter what you have decided they are for. £24K is substantial, it is a lot more than many people earn in a year.
There is no way round it.

raq

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

Ah, the old 'let's blame immigrants for our problems' type.

You know that people are free to go and claim benefits in other EU countries? For instance, you're free to come and use our Polish system. It's a pretty bad system, granted (12 months of ZUS contributions required before it pays anything!) - but you're still free to come and exploit it.

Always one. Leave it there for now.;)

Bogof_Babe

What this sort of thing says to me is that Britain has now become a place where the default situation is seen as not supporting yourself. Those rare people who are determined to support themselves are quickly advised to look into what they might be entitled to claim.

We need to get back to a place where it is expected and encouraged that hand-outs are a last resort, not a first choice. The system was never designed to subsidise people who can manage perfectly adequately on what they have got, however they came by it.

The OP and those like her should be asked what they need, should they try to claim, not what they are "entitled to".

I realise this thread should probably be in DT by now, having veered right off the original question .

Francesanne

anniehanlon wrote: »

But Francesanne, If you have less than £16K savings you are indeed entitled to some benefits, please dont wait till you are skint, you are not being fair to yourselves. You have no doubt paid into the system and like i say you are entitled. If you dont feel like you want to apply just incase you are not eligible then just go see CAB first or try the entitledto website to see first.
Good luck

We're very fortunate and have a decent amount in savings but obviously that amount is being eroded all the time because we're using our capital to live. Will certainly apply for help when it's needed. Thanks for your advice.