DWP investigating uncles estate

astra73033

thank you all for your input, it sounds like my father has a long wait ahead of him which i feel is unfair. from what i can make out i think my uncle failed to tell them about his savings but not on purpose. i don't think that he understood the forms properly so when officers of the dwp helped him to fill them in as far as he was concerned what was his was his. he had money left to him from a partner and the rest he saved and did without, left the heating off and things, the way the older generation do. if he had known the trouble that this has caused he would, and should, have spent the lot. it just makes you wonder. i can understand if you have money you shouldn't get it but when you are doing without or saving for a rainy day. all i can say is i wish i knew how to make the system work for me. all my uncle did was put a few quid by for what ever reason and it seems he was saving up just to give it back, well if i have any money i'll make sure its all gone before i go. again thank you all very much, astra, :):)

rogerblack

astra73033 wrote: »

He had money left to him from a partner and the rest he saved and did without, left the heating off and things, the way the older generation do.

It's a damn shame.
If only it was possible to say 'I don't need this benefit at the moment' - and it would stack up so you could claim it later.
This would eliminate many of these cases where people have saved up for a rainy day.

Make it a form of tax-free savings, perhaps with a decent interest rate.
The only caveat is that it doesn't go to your estate on death.

clemmatis

First, astra, I'm really sorry your father's so worried about this. I hope he realises he isn't personally liable for any debts.

rogerblack wrote: »

It's a damn shame.
If only it was possible to say 'I don't need this benefit at the moment' - and it would stack up so you could claim it later.
This would eliminate many of these cases where people have saved up for a rainy day.

Make it a form of tax-free savings, perhaps with a decent interest rate.
The only caveat is that it doesn't go to your estate on death.

Look, if people don't qualify for a benefit (because their savings are over the limit), they don't qualify. I really don't see why you suggest they should be able to stack it up. If, later, we/they do qualify, we can claim it then. I'm in that situation -- savings over the limit -- I find your suggestion quaint... .

rogerblack

clemmatis wrote: »

First, astra, I'm really sorry your father's so worried about this. I hope he realises he isn't personally liable for any debts.



Look, if people don't qualify for a benefit (because their savings are over the limit), they don't qualify. I really don't see why you suggest they should be able to stack it up. If, later, we/they do qualify, we can claim it then. I'm in that situation -- savings over the limit -- I find your suggestion quaint... .

I am not addressing those with preexisting savings, but for example the
(fairly common) case of a not-well off pensioner that after a lifetime of struggling, and having no savings, suddenly gets granted some benefit, and has more money coming in.

Many of these people continue frugally, not spending all of their benefit, and soon breach the limit of savings.

Currently, what they 'should be' doing is to spend all they are getting.
If it was possible for them to defer benefit for a period, it has several advantages.
It reduces the cost of administration compared to if they stop their claim then resume it later.
It means the government has that money available to spend.
All of the unspent money will be recovered on death.

clemmatis

Astra's uncle was, as you note, left some money by a partner, I assume, before he claimed the benefits. And also, he saved. We don't know whether some of the savings, too, were pre-existing. It sounds as though he didn't qualify for the benefits, but had no idea he didn't qualify. And that is really rough on his relatives, now.

Astra, they took some weeks to sort out my mother's case, and there, the only query really was whether they should ask for repayment of her state pension for the time she spent in hospital. They told me (I acted as executor and did everything myself, solicitors charge so much) it would take a while simply because they forwarded the papers to a central department. But you certainly have had to wait a long time; what does the solicitor say about it?

astra73033

thank you for all your input, its more than welcomed. i have passed it all onto my father and informed him to contact the solicitor to get a update or for them to contact the dwp to see what, if any, progress has been made. again thank you all very much, astra

MacMickster

dafyguy wrote: »

No, but they can charge the deceased claimants estate.

Really? What offence has the estate (as opposed to the deceased) committed?

If they try to charge a penalty in such circumstances then my advice would be to talk to a solicitor as I don't believe that it would be upheld by any court.

downshifter98

I know of people in this position - a lifetime of living frugally and then they qualify (legally) for pension credits, disability benefit etc and find themselves with an income a few thousand pounds per annum in excess of what they need and, before too long, start worrying that their savings are starting to creep up and have to decide how to increase their spending; happy days for various Grandchildren and the nearest off licence/bookies but another example of a daft system and one of the reasons that many old people refuse to claim benefits.

Sam____2

downshifter98 wrote: »

I know of people in this position - a lifetime of living frugally and then they qualify (legally) for pension credits, disability benefit etc and find themselves with an income a few thousand pounds per annum in excess of what they need and, before too long, start worrying that their savings are starting to creep up and have to decide how to increase their spending; happy days for various Grandchildren and the nearest off licence/bookies but another example of a daft system and one of the reasons that many old people refuse to claim benefits.

Then why live frugally if there is no need, that's daft...

downshifter98

Then why live frugally if there is no need, that's daft...

Spoken like a true youngster - I do agree but, believe it or not, there are still some of the, mainly, older generation who actually take pride in living frugally and almost resent being forced into spending more than they wish to avoid their perception of 'being in trouble' for having savings (ie they don't want to be told what to do) - old habits die hard and, yes, the easy answer is spend more but if benefits are set at a level to provide a basic lifestyle then perhaps those living below this (by choice) should be allowed to keep the savings inevitably accruing. The really easy answer is to avoid benefits but who, in their right mind, would do that...