Inheritance affecting council tax benefit

Penelope_Penguin

everever wrote: »

I've worked all my life, have 2 children and have never claimed benefits. The sarcastic remarks and people laughing at the fact that he may get 'done' are not helpful and are very upsetting

No-one is laughing at you, we're just offering you the facts regarding deprivation of capital.

Have you really never claimed child benefit (or tax credits) as you're likely to be entitled to them.

Oldernotwiser

everever wrote: »

I have not done anything wrong, i didnt even know about this until yesterday! I was just asking if anyone knew what to expect and what was the best way to procede....not a pat on the back. I've worked all my life, have 2 children and have never claimed benefits. The sarcastic remarks and people laughing at the fact that he may get 'done' are not helpful and are very upsetting

There has been just one sarcastic post on this thread and nobody has made light of any future prosecution of your father.

(Have you really never claimed child benefit or tax credits?)

fluffymovie

To be very honest, I would never criticise someone for putting money into a pension, they are providing for their old age afterall.

The issue seems to be that your father did not declare the money to anyone and I am a bit confused as to how it has been discovered now if it is in a pension scheme and he isn't earning any interest. This is why I suggest that it may be that he is considered to have the money as would seem odd that anyone found out about it.

In my role in benefits, I advise people about a lot of issues and have advised people to purchase pension plans etc.

When it comes to deprivation, it is really hard to prove in all honesty and the council (not sure about JCP) need to be able to show that the over riding intention of spending the money was to claim benefits to which they would not be entitled,

I wouldn't suggest this is the case with your Dad but he should, as I have said, provide all that he is asked for and await their decision.

everever

I dont know how they know about the money...there's is no reason to suspect that he is hiding away hidden millions that's for sure!! He's self employed but has been suffering from arthritis in his back and as he has a manual job he's been struggling. That is why he was asking for help with the council tax...last month the council decided (thanks to advice i found on this website) that they were in the wrong council tax band anyway so that's helped. They have claimed maybe 2 months council tax at a reduced rate since he received the money so if it is just a matter of paying back the over payment then i'd do it myself, i was worried that he might be prosecuted. Anyway he has spoken to the council today. My apologies- i do get child benefit but i dont claim tax credits. I think we may be entitled to them as we pay out a lot for childcare but 3 people at work have had to pay back over payments so i'm steering clear

suburbanwifey

everever wrote: »

He doesnt claim housing benefit, just council tax as it was crippling them. Obviously now it would have been better to live off the money instead of putting it into a pension but as he has ill health he was thinking of my mums future i guess. I dont require any more 'help' thanks as this site clearly just finds other peoples problems amusing

Its very sad to see several posters being nasty. Firstly, all moneysavers are asked to be nice! (clearly, many do not follow that advice) and secondly, I think he did not *intentionally* do anything wrong!

How many normal people out there know the complex rules of the entire benefits system? Many of the staff who work for the system don't understand a lot of it at times, for goodness sake! Its intentionally made difficult if you ask me, the horror stories I read of 50 page booklets that have to be filled in for the simplest thing, then it takes months to sort out...the system is badly flawed n many ways and just because someone does something wrong in the eyes of the system, it does not make them a fraudster. This man lives on a tiny (below poverty level) income, works for it! and claims one small benefit, which on that income, he is and should be entitled to.

So he inherits some money, and trying to do the 'right thing" and use it wisely, he pays it into his pension - lets face it, if he relies on the Govt. to look after him in his old age, after years of paying into the system, he won't get much to live on will he? Whats paid out to pensioners after 40 years of paying into the system should be classed as illegal.

Ignore the snide remarks, jealous nasty people who have nothing better to do than make accusations without knowing all the facts.

{{{Hugs}}}


Hope it all works out ok, don't let the nasty ones stop you posting, most on here do and will help when they can and even if they cannot, they have a kind, comforting word for you.

everever

suburbanwifey wrote: »

Its very sad to see several posters being nasty. Firstly, all moneysavers are asked to be nice! (clearly, many do not follow that advice) and secondly, I think he did not *intentionally* do anything wrong!

How many normal people out there know the complex rules of the entire benefits system? Many of the staff who work for the system don't understand a lot of it at times, for goodness sake! Its intentionally made difficult if you ask me, the horror stories I read of 50 page booklets that have to be filled in for the simplest thing, then it takes months to sort out...the system is badly flawed n many ways and just because someone does something wrong in the eyes of the system, it does not make them a fraudster. This man lives on a tiny (below poverty level) income, works for it! and claims one small benefit, which on that income, he is and should be entitled to.

So he inherits some money, and trying to do the 'right thing" and use it wisely, he pays it into his pension - lets face it, if he relies on the Govt. to look after him in his old age, after years of paying into the system, he won't get much to live on will he? Whats paid out to pensioners after 40 years of paying into the system should be classed as illegal.

Ignore the snide remarks, jealous nasty people who have nothing better to do than make accusations without knowing all the facts.

{{{Hugs}}}


Hope it all works out ok, don't let the nasty ones stop you posting, most on here do and will help when they can and even if they cannot, they have a kind, comforting word for you.

Thanks so much, i was upset when i posted the original thread as i had just found out so perhaps i didnt come across well. I really just wanted some straight forward suggestions as to what i could do about it and where i could find advice. As a new poster i wasnt anticipating so many responses....i should have looked at some of the other threads, i might have known what to expect then!
Thanks so much for your post, it's cheered me up x x x

Mojisola

If your Dad is having mobility problems because of his arthritis, he may be able to claim DLA but he'll have to do it before he's 65. Do get someone in to have a look at your parents' situation.

My parents went from really struggling to having enough to save a little every week and the relief it gave them was tremendous.

Oldernotwiser

suburbanwifey wrote: »

Its very sad to see several posters being nasty. Firstly, all moneysavers are asked to be nice! (clearly, many do not follow that advice) and secondly, I think he did not *intentionally* do anything wrong!

How many normal people out there know the complex rules of the entire benefits system? Many of the staff who work for the system don't understand a lot of it at times, for goodness sake! Its intentionally made difficult if you ask me, the horror stories I read of 50 page booklets that have to be filled in for the simplest thing, then it takes months to sort out...the system is badly flawed n many ways and just because someone does something wrong in the eyes of the system, it does not make them a fraudster. This man lives on a tiny (below poverty level) income, works for it! and claims one small benefit, which on that income, he is and should be entitled to.

So he inherits some money, and trying to do the 'right thing" and use it wisely, he pays it into his pension - lets face it, if he relies on the Govt. to look after him in his old age, after years of paying into the system, he won't get much to live on will he? Whats paid out to pensioners after 40 years of paying into the system should be classed as illegal.

Ignore the snide remarks, jealous nasty people who have nothing better to do than make accusations without knowing all the facts.

{{{Hugs}}}


Hope it all works out ok, don't let the nasty ones stop you posting, most on here do and will help when they can and even if they cannot, they have a kind, comforting word for you.

I have to repeat, one post on here was a bit sarky but NOBODY has been nasty to the OP! Stop stirring!

everever

Mojisola wrote: »

If your Dad is having mobility problems because of his arthritis, he may be able to claim DLA but he'll have to do it before he's 65. Do get someone in to have a look at your parents' situation.

My parents went from really struggling to having enough to save a little every week and the relief it gave them was tremendous.

Thanks very much, i'll take a look at it. If my dad had been receiving a regular payment to his bank account or a cheque then he might have given it more thought. But as the council agreed a £200 reduction at the beginning of the year he wrongly but not intentionally failed to take it into consideration when he was left the money :-( it was a message sent via pm that annoyed me. Anyway thanks again anyone that gave helpful advice x x x