child giving parent cash each month

gfplux

Does money given weekly or monthly to an elderly parent (to help out) on benefits effect those benefits

nomoreboomandbust

There are things that can be done which might help- They may buy their weekly shopping for them/pay the odd bill here and there.

gfplux

Do you mean that it would effect benefits if for example a standing order was set up? or the electrical bill was paid?
That not to effect benefit it has to be done secretly?

Robbie64

Both types of payments could be seen to be "voluntary payments" which can be taken into account as income but whether it affects benefits depends on the benefit that is in payments.

Voluntary income covers situations such as a relative paying bills or giving a regular amount of money to help out.

Robbie64

nomoreboomandbust wrote: »

There are things that can be done which might help- They may buy their weekly shopping for them/pay the odd bill here and there.

For benefits such as Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance etc that is income which should be declared and which could affect benefit. This is because benefit is paid to cover the same outgoings.

Robbie64

Are the parents on State Pension Credit? If so I can't find any rules similar to other means tested benefits re: voluntary income which might suggest that PC is unaffected by someone paying bills or helping out with other outgoings.

Mojisola

Have you made sure the parents are getting everything they are entitled to? The Pensions Service are very good at helping older people. They will do a benefit check and make sure they are claiming what they can.

Penny-Pincher!!

If it's regular then it would probably be counted as income and the appropriate amount be taken off their entitlement. Even if someone is paying a weekly/monthly bill like food etc, this would still be counted as income.

Mojisola

You can always give generous Christmas and birthday money presents as long as the gift doesn't take them over the capital allowance. If you're able to visit, then you could hand over cash.

As I understand it, as long as the gifts are occasional and not part of their regular weekly income, they don't count.

andyandflo

Robbie64 wrote: »

For benefits such as Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance etc that is income which should be declared and which could affect benefit. This is because benefit is paid to cover the same outgoings.

You may be right but to be honest it is a bit rich for the government to reduce the benefit because child is paying Mum some money every week. The idea of this is to help out the relative to have a better standard of life not reduce the welfare bill!!

I didn't know that it would affect those benefits, but looking at it again - yes I can see that it would.

I used to give my single parent daughter until she got married last year, £300 every month to help out with the rent she was paying. It used to be a Standing Order from my account to hers. I would not have been happy if they had reduced her benefits by £300pm!! (IS, CTB, HB)

You have me thinking now, I am in the process of building two bungalows, one for us and the other for my other daughter. She & her partner are in rented accomodation and being on benefit, are having to find the extra over the HB payments every month which is a struggle. I pay her the same as I did for her sister £300pm which they use to buy the little extras, clothes for my two grandchildren, school trips, car tax, etc.

I was thinking of just giving them the property (losing capital for Inheritance purposes), but I now wonder if the DWP would see it as capital (property is worth about £325,000 ish - cost me a lot less to build of course!) Maybe it would be better to retain ownership but allow them to stay for free for life - it will be hers when I have gone anyhow!

I just don't see that it is fair that mum's, dad's, children etc can't help out each other without the worry of them losing benefit because of it. It's my money and they are gifts.

calleyw

andyandflo wrote: »

I used to give my single parent daughter until she got married last year, £300 every month to help out with the rent she was paying. It used to be a Standing Order from my account to hers. I would not have been happy if they had reduced her benefits by £300pm!! (IS, CTB, HB)

I assume you daughter declared this monthly money you where giving her. As regular income it has to be declared.

If not then I would say that DWP/Council may see it as benefit fraud. I know it was not deliberate. But they expect the claimaint to be know the rules.

Yours

Calley