How easy/stressful/time consuming to apply for HB & CTB

TOBRUK

Is CTB = council tax benefit? Sorry!

Whatever, with HB you just get a short form and they ask for other details - they may ask for bank statements (I was asked for 6 months of my bank statements. You just need to answer questions about your savings, ISA etc if you have any - and do give them honest answers even if you have just £5.00 in a savings account!

I realise that you have saved all your life and have almost £16,000.00 saved. With this in mind you may very well not be eligible for any benefit and will have to live off your savings. You may be reluctant and may not like it (and want to keep your savings!) but this is the rule - do not try and hide any money!

If you are going to spend some of your savings (a large amount) on anything ... such as a new car etc then you will have to justify it to them - keep any details on your big spending as they may want to know about it as it may be seen as deprivation of capital.

luminated

Thanks TOBRUK

CTB is Council Tax Benefit.

I have put my details in the turn2us and local councils web site and both have the same figures even when I have £15,999 left. And yes I darned well will before anyone comes along to say live off that until you are penniless.

pandaspot

One thing you could do is ask for an appointment with an assessor to complete your form with them, and ask them what you need to bring in and that way no mistakes are made and it takes out some stress out of it.

Where I work we invite all new claimants in for an interview or visit them. Complete the form with them, scan all docs. We advise everything they need to bring in beforehand. And often get the claim paid the same day, depending if all evidence was provided. You only need to supply 2 months worth of bank statements.

bestpud

Why the defensive attitude? It seems pretty black and white to me as well.

If you want the benefits then you deal with the forms and the time it takes.

If you don't then live off your savings.

Most don't have a choice so dont spend time fretting over the claim - they just do whatever it takes because they have to.

Oldernotwiser

luminated wrote: »

I have put my details in the turn2us and local councils web site and both have the same figures even when I have £15,999 left. And yes I darned well will before anyone comes along to say live off that until you are penniless.

Nobody is left penniless when claiming benefits as £6,000 capital doesn't affect your entitlement.

luminated

pandaspot wrote: »

One thing you could do is ask for an appointment with an assessor to complete your form with them, and ask them what you need to bring in and that way no mistakes are made and it takes out some stress out of it.

Where I work we invite all new claimants in for an interview or visit them. Complete the form with them, scan all docs. We advise everything they need to bring in beforehand. And often get the claim paid the same day, depending if all evidence was provided. You only need to supply 2 months worth of bank statements.

Thanks for helping, on topic, with my OP. Keep up the good work on the forum as I for one much appreciate it. From what you say it is relatively straightforward and totally unlike the hoops to jump through to get ESA.

I have also checked my local councils web site where they say phone during which they confirm eligibilty, then they make an appointment to see you at your own home, then no more than five days to be told the outcome. Phew all a relief.

luminated

bestpud wrote: »

Why the defensive attitude? It seems pretty black and white to me as well.

If you want the benefits then you deal with the forms and the time it takes.

If you don't then live off your savings.

Most don't have a choice so dont spend time fretting over the claim - they just do whatever it takes because they have to.

Try and stick on topic and take your provacation to the DT board.

luminated

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Nobody is left penniless when claiming benefits as £6,000 capital doesn't affect your entitlement.

What relevance is £6,000 when I was talking of being just below the £16,000 at £15,999 :think:

Oldernotwiser

luminated wrote: »

What relevance is £6,000 when I was talking of being just below the £16,000 at £15,999 :think:

Because you were talking about people having to be penniless before they could claim benefits and I was pointing out that this wasn't the case.

luminated

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Because you were talking about people having to be penniless before they could claim benefits and I was pointing out that this wasn't the case.

Not quite what I meant.

To clarify.

Many on this board seem to think you should spend all your savings before you claim a penny off the state and I said on my post, at 9.30 today, I would not be doing that. I will claim as soon as my savings balance hits £15,999. I doubt many wouldn't.