BR and backdated benefits

saf1976

Hi all,

I am set to go BR in the next month or two.

I have been out of work since December and am caring for my mother who is ill. I will be claiming income support and carers allowance. I put the claim in a while ago and need some paperwork to come through to finalise it. The benefits agency lost the previous lot of paperwork I had sent through.

The amount is likely to be close to £2k as it has been ongoing for 5 months.

I have been living off my mum while this has been going on and haven't paid any rent. All of which i can prove. No income or job and no benefits recieved over this period.

What will happen to the £2k in this situation?

Saf

Holes_in_my_pocket

Ummmm The £2k is your money and given it to your mother would be considered prefferentail treatment and OR can ask for it back. But i am no expert. Someone else maybe be able to give advice

fermi

Back-payments of benefits are yours to keep.

The OR could ask you to pay some of it to them voluntarily, but they cannot legally force you to do so.

What you do with it is up to you, as long as you do not use it to pay any normal creditors.