Help re housing ben

stre55edout

I rceived an occupational pension last year taking my capital over the £16000. We have spent it all and I have recently claimed housing ben and they want to know where my capital has gone. I realise they will need to know that I haven't kept the money somewhere but I have spent it and have only got receipts for about a third of what I spent. Do I have to justify what and why I spent my money on? This is making me feel ill, it was a pension I got due to ill health retitrement, I would much rather be working than claiming benefits but because I have to provide evidence of the money spent I feel like I am being judged and that I have done something wrong. It was my money to spend, why to I have to explain it to benefits people? Any help would be appreciated this makes me feel sick to the pit of my stomach.

mealone

They are looking to see if you have deprived yourself of capital to claim a benefit and they are entitled to.

McKneff

You do have to justify it i am afraid.
actually you are being judged and you have done something wrong and you obviously dont realise it.. Sounds like you have blown the money then are expecting taxpayers to pick the tab up for you by giving you benefits now..
Sorry if its not what you want to hear but.........

ladylumps45

have you got more proof to give them from your bank statements? this might help if for example you spent it on a car or similar.
my friend got redundancy money and spent it on a car amongst various other things(some of it luxurious-which i feel she was entitled to do personally!).
anyway the benefits office thought it was rather quick to get through the amount she had and wanted proof of everything.did you pay any utilities up front for the year that you have proof of? -water,tv licence,house ins etc? im sure even an email receipt if you paid for anything would be proof.

McKneff

my friend got redundancy money and spent it on a car amongst various other things(some of it luxurious-which i feel she was entitled to do personally!).

Of course she was entitled to do it as long as she wasnt then later on going to claim benefits.

stre55edout

Thanks for your replies they help immensely

Oldernotwiser

stre55edout wrote: »

Thanks for your replies they help immensely

You can't pick and choose the advice and information you get; people try to be accurate rather than unrealistically reassuring.