Help! will I get in trouble for having more than £6,000 in my bank account?

cit_k

Whatever any one tells you on an internet forum, would not be of any interest to the DWP, if they were to investigate.

Unless of course, that person was a proper welfare rights advisor, and they had identified themselves as such, and their credentials were checkable by the DWP.

The DWP wont even accept mis-advice from even a doctor, in regards to things like this, as good cause.

Either the DWP, or welfare rights, or other well known advice service such as the CAB etc would be the only people the DWP would accept as being reliable for information, and good cause for a claimaint doing something wrong due to their mis-advice.

if it was me, I would tell the DWP asap, and let take whatever action is required.

Actually, if it was me, I would close any claims, and just live of the savings (I was in the position where I had several thousand before I started claiming, and just lived of savings before I started) as the stress of dealing with the DWP/ATOS with regards to sickness benefit is just not good for my health.

I probably could have claimed something, but I was too ill at the time to even think properly, now, with hindsight, I would do the same thing,as it would mean a break away from having to deal with the DWP...

passatrider

I'd like to believe that the OP is a genuine but I'm afraid the overall tone seems a bit suspicious to me I'm afraid.
The tone of the thread suggests that you are more clued up than you are letting on?

Indie_Kid

The people at the JCP aren't always correct. I have over £6k in savings and was told that because I have over £5k, (I think I got told on here that they need to know if the capital is over £5500?) I lose £1 for every £150 over this. I had to sit there and correct him.

There is a lot of information online regarding the lower and upper capital limits.

seven-day-weekend

EltonJohnFan wrote: »

I am indeed genuine but it seems like there's been some confusion?

I'm not the best person in the world at explaining things and it's difficult to get your point across on an internet website but as I say I have nothing to hide and I've been completely honest in all my postings. It's up to you whether you think I'm genuine or not but I appreciate the help and support you and other members of the community have given me in this as I desperately need to find out exactly where I stood and now that I do? I intend to put it right. Thank you.

OK, having read your explanation in post 51 for the misunderstanding, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and try again.

Some Benefits are NOT affected by savings. DLA is one of them. You can have as much capital/savings as you like and still claim DLA. The same applies to Jobseekers' Allowance (Contributions-based).

Other Benefits ARE affected by savings. Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance, Council Tax Benefit, Income Support and Jobseekers' Allowance (Income -based) fall into this category. If you have less than £6k these Benefits will not be affected. Between £6k and £15,999 these Benefits will be reduced proportionally as explained above. If you have £16k or more you will not be entitled to these Benefits.

I hope this clarifies.

(I will add that I am not a professional Benefits Advisor).

nogginthenog

cit_k wrote: »

Whatever any one tells you on an internet forum, would not be of any interest to the DWP, if they were to investigate.

Unless of course, that person was a proper welfare rights advisor, and they had identified themselves as such, and their credentials were checkable by the DWP.

The DWP wont even accept mis-advice from even a doctor, in regards to things like this, as good cause.

Either the DWP, or welfare rights, or other well known advice service such as the CAB etc would be the only people the DWP would accept as being reliable for information, and good cause for a claimaint doing something wrong due to their mis-advice.

if it was me, I would tell the DWP asap, and let take whatever action is required.

Actually, if it was me, I would close any claims, and just live of the savings (I was in the position where I had several thousand before I started claiming, and just lived of savings before I started) as the stress of dealing with the DWP/ATOS with regards to sickness benefit is just not good for my health.

I probably could have claimed something, but I was too ill at the time to even think properly, now, with hindsight, I would do the same thing,as it would mean a break away from having to deal with the DWP...

I know what you mean, I have just had the DWP swear blind that they did not receive two recorded delivery letters.Even though i have proof of posting and more important a electronic signiture of delivery.
It is only when i sent in the proof that they suddenly found the letters and the proof in them.

Blobby8_2

andy46 wrote: »

That's the unfairness of the system we live in I'm afraid.
Spend all your money and this government will look after you.Work your !!!!! off all your life and save for a rainy day, they don't give a !!!!!!.:mad:

Join the club

Muttleythefrog

Yes, it seems EJF you were misadvised by jobcentre staff. There are several people here correctly identifying the issue of savings and income based benefits ("seven-day-weekend" most recently).

The issue of deprivation of capital issue (raised here because of the issue of capital and benefits) is a little more complicated as it seems quite subjective as to what would be legally construed as this - capital repayments on a mortgage could be argued either way but it is something I have done with no ill consequences - the test I suppose is 'has the person disposed of capital in order to gain benefit money'. (Investigators would likely consider things like large sums of money moved to relatives as most obvious forms of deprivation of capital). Ironically in making capital repayments I am actually reducing the amount of benefits I get (when Support for Mortgage Interest is added to the equation) so I could factually show I'm losing benefit money through disposing of my capital.

If honesty is the policy you're taking EJF, do as others have advised - simply get statements to show your balance movements above £6K to present so they can assess how much (if anything - you may be able to argue you were misadvised by DWP) you have been overpaid. But as someone else has pointed out, you don't seem the sort of person the DWP is going to get nasty with - it's obvious you're trying to be honest with them. As you're being honest with them, be sure to highlight to them when your savings go down as well as up so that you get the correct amount of benefits (every £250 above £6000 will affect the income based benefit amounts up to £16k when you lose the benefit. Things like DLA isn't means tested so you can work, be a millionaire and still get that).

As general point, I think that when you apply for means tested benefits they're typically looking for those
declaring over £5.5k in total savings to 'check up on' (i.e. ask for proof of savings - statements etc) to ensure they genuinely do have less than £6k. But EJF you definitely should not worry about this - the worst that will happen is they'll calculate you've been overpaid some benefits and have to pay it back. They're as likely to be as annoyed you've told them (as it generates them some nasty maths) as they will be had you not and they found out...*chuckle*.. I suspect!