Cashback and income support

catherine12345_2

Hello. I'm currently on income support and have a question regarding cashback. If I take out home insurance and get £35 cashback, do I have to declare it the £35 as 'income'? I've done loads of googling and can't find the answer. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll get the cashback as I couldn't complete the transaction wholly online but I'm thinking of changing energy suppliers in the near future (to save money) but don't want to fall foul of benefit rules.

Can anyone help?

dmg24

No, you don't have to declare it.

needmorehelp

Just to chip in here, would doing the odd online survey count as income or even work for benefit purposes?

thanks
)

Savvy_Spender_South

For income support purposes you can work up to 16 hours a week and earn (individual values vary) a limited amount of money.

In letter of the law honesty, any earnings should be declared so online surveys yes. but who is gonna hold you to that!

Cash back is a return on your spending outgoings, not income generation so no need to declare.

Benefits_Bod

Savvy_Spender_South wrote: »

In letter of the law honesty, any earnings should be declared so online surveys yes. but who is gonna hold you to that!

Strictly speaking, there is only a duty to notify changes of circs where the claimant (or recipient if different) might reasonably be expected to know might affect benefit.

So, if the change won't affect benefit, there is no duty to notify. However, if in doubt, notify - in writing and get a receipt.

OhYeah

May I ask on the back of this. I recently left work and have been given a refund of pension contributions to put ina nother pension fund. I don't have a pension fund to put it in and the money (£350) is sitting in my bank. Do I need to declare this? My forme employer has deducted tax from it.

LittleVoice

OhYeah wrote: »

May I ask on the back of this. I recently left work and have been given a refund of pension contributions to put ina nother pension fund. I don't have a pension fund to put it in and the money (£350) is sitting in my bank. Do I need to declare this? My forme employer has deducted tax from it.

Are you claiming any benefit other than contribution-based JSA?

If that is all you are claiming, then there is no need to declare the pension refund because it is not income in the current period, simply a return of earlier income which got diverted into a pension scheme and has now been returned to you with tax deducted.

If you are claiming means-tested benefits then it would form part of your capital. There is no legal requirement for you to put that money into a pension scheme in the future.