Interview with Council

Karina1234

Hi there. Hope someone can give advise. I know there will be alot on this thread who wont be very sympathetic, but I will begin. I received a letter today from the Council saying they dont think I declared my capital properly. I am on Incapacity benefit. Some money was given to me by my aunt to look after (she lives in the states), so if she wanted to use it when she came over she could. Me being a dumbarse left it in an Isa. Lets just say the amount was probably over the amount they say you can have in savings. Now I am worried, but how do I deal with this matter? I'm now frightened I'll soon get a letter from the social.

Scarlett1

why did your aunt give you money to look after in case she came over here, whats wrong with her putting it in a bank

sorry but your story seems a bit far fetched and I doubt the DWP will believe you

Do you have any proof this money isnt yours ?

cattie

A lot of people claim the money isn't theirs when found to have capital over the limits for benefits, & say that they are looking after it for a relative, so you need to take care that what you tell them about ownership of the money is the truth.

If the money is in fact yours then best to just plead ignorance on the capital limits & they would be less likely to procecute & just ask you to pay back the overpayment amount.

With regard to your sickness benefit, I'm not sure that is affected by savings, but it would be in your best interests to write to the DWP asap, stating a change of circumstances & that you now have X amount in savings.

Good luck.

Penny-Pincher!!

Why will the social be bothering you? Are you on other benefits?

Unless you can prove otherwise, DWP will count any savings over the allowed amount as income, and if they find out you will have to pay back the benefits they have paid you and could be prosecuted for benefit fraud.

Your auntie in the USA could have just opened an account over there and drawn out whilst over here

PP
xx

Karina1234

Thanks for the responses. Far fetched or not, my Aunty got some cash after a car accident. She comes over here maybe once every year or. I put it in my account as a favor. Shes going to buy a house in Florida and didnt want to dip into it, which she would have if she kept it. In a couple of months time, she was due to come over and change the cash to dollars (better exchange rate!). I wont be helping anyone again.Even though when I go and see her, I leave some money for her to keep for my next visit. But there you go!

Turning_into_scrooge

Sorry but i am totally confused here. How can someone on benefits afford to fly to Florida? You're given the basic amount to live on

tiger

Well I Think If You Can Prove That The Money Is From Your Auntor For Your Aunt Then They Can Be Sympathetic. Try Something Toprove Its Not Yours

lil_me

If it is her money she'll no doubt be able to write you a letter to state it is hers

victoriav

Turning_into_scrooge wrote:

Sorry but i am totally confused here. How can someone on benefits afford to fly to Florida? You're given the basic amount to live on

Crikey! what a condescending attitude to have....!! How do you know that she hasn't had it paid for by a relative or sold something to pay for it..? or got a last minute cancellation, birthday present? So then all people on benefits don't ever go on holidays, or shouldn't, because they would be getting ideas above their station....??? best to stay at home and eat bread and dripping if you're on benefits then......

hobo28

So then all people on benefits don't ever go on holidays, or shouldn't

They can go on all the holidays they like, as long as the state isn't paying for it thru our taxes. I don't mind paying taxes to support people in time of need but I'm not happy about paying for them to go on holiday!

I can't afford a holiday this year and I work full time. I don't see why someone on benefits should expect a right to a holiday.

Anyway, back to the topic in hand. If the money is indeed your aunts, a letter from her saying this would be a good start. Bank statements showing that the money was transferred from her account or her insurance company would back up your version of events. When is your aunt due over? If its soon then DWP could speak to her and it would be quickly cleared up.

girleight@

Incapacity benefit is for people who can't work though, and that could happen to anyone. That's why we pay taxes as like an insurance policy.