£16,000 savings but can i get a council house? (scotland)

GlasweJen

wispagold wrote: »

I don't want to rip off the system or anything but it does seem that i'd be better spliting the money, cars, furniture with him rather than just taking the money then having to live off it. I did kind of think/dream i'd have £15,000 to spend on a car, furniture, carpets etc when i got a place, lol

No plans to get a job as yet, housing will have to be my first priority.

My bolds, basically the OP is moving out of a house with her child and £15,000 and expects to be able to get a council house, spend all the money and get benefits and isn't even considering supporting herself with work.

OP you need to google "intentional deprivation of assets", you'll be expected to spend that money on actual essentials like housing, basic furniture, food and clothes for your child before anything like buying a car. If you don't the council will just act as if you still have the money and you wont get any benefits until the time they think you would have had less than £6,000.

I'd renegotiate the split with your OH and remember that he should be paying maintenance for his child too.

Oldernotwiser

wispagold wrote: »

did kind of think/dream i'd have £15,000 to spend on a car, furniture, carpets etc when i got a place, lol


I just want to try to get the most out of what i've got, if that makes sense.

I think we're all trying to be nice to you but do you have any idea of the way in which this is coming across?

wispagold

Thanks again for all the comments! You have given me food for thought over the next few days.

Keep any advice coming!

Happy New Year to you all and thanks again x

wispagold

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I think we're all trying to be nice to you but do you have any idea of the way in which this is coming across?

sorry if you think i'm a spoilt brat or ungrateful, i've no idea how the system works which is why i asked on here for advice first. I've not had any experience of the benefit system or council housing so i am pretty clueless.

I do appreciate people taking the time to answer my queries

chesky369

I'm assuming that you and your partner are not married, also that he is the father of your child. He will therefore be supporting this child financially. Have you come to an arrangement as to how much? I don't think you're a spoilt brat or ungrateful but I do think you possibly have unrealistic expectations of the benefit/LA system. You have sufficient funds to keep you going for some time until you make up your mind how you should proceed and this really should include a return to salaried employment as soon as possible. You may have been away from work from when you had your child, so your confidence will need assisting in this but once you've got yourself together and decided to take the step, believe me, it will be a million times better for you and your child than existing on benefits.

Tiddlywinks

wispagold wrote: »

We thought it would be easier for me to have all the money and him keep everything else, he has £15,000 worth of cars furniture etc, ................ I did kind of think/dream i'd have £15,000 to spend on a car, furniture, carpets etc when i got a place, lol
...............................
No plans to get a job as yet, housing will have to be my first priority.
...............................
I just want to try to get the most out of what i've got, if that makes sense.

You have sufficient finances to rent a place - you do not NEED social assistance (no matter how much you might WANT it to "preserve" your savings).

As to your "no plans to get a job as yet......" - why not? People look for work and somewhere to live (at the same time) every day of the week - why can't you?

adouglasmhor

Depending on where you are in Scotland many places have a surplus of council or HA flats, You may get a flat or house offered straight away. You will pay the full rent yourself with the money you have taken into account.

tr82

The OP is not required to be available for work, for benefit purposes ; she is a now a lone parent with a 3 y/o child. She can obviously work, if that is her choice, but she's not required to.

Instead she can apply for Income Support to cover her personal needs once her savings are below £16k, with Housing Benefit to help cover rent payments, Council Tax Benefit to help cover that. If that's the route she chooses, it will reduce the rate at which her own savings depreciate.

And that's really what this board is for. Maximising income, saving money.

All else is for Discussion Time.

Oldernotwiser

tr82 wrote: »

And that's really what this board is for. Maximising income, saving money.

All else is for Discussion Time.

Whilst you're right about this not being the place for discussions, I think many people would take issue with you that "maximising income" isn't necessarily what the Benefits Board is "really" for!

jennihen

Come on you guys - we're bombarded through the media that single mums are are entitled to this,that and the other. Of course the OP is going to be asking what she might be entitled to.
Good luck wispagold.