How and where to save around £18k (on income support)?! Please help!

Caz3121

with £18k her means tested benefits will stop altogether.
Once she has dropped to below £16k they will look at what she has spent the £2k+ they will decide whether the spending was acceptable and either
a) decide it is not and treat her as if she still has the money
b) acceptable - benefits applied (with the deduction for having over £6k)

if she drops below £6k they would again decide as above

Jai_M

"Wow, thanks for all the replies... So, not sure where to start... I understand what you are all saying and there are plenty of benefit thieves out there, not declaring they are in relationships, getting 2 peoples earnings etc etc and then there are those that claim to be disabled when they aren't etc. And I'm also aware that people lose benefits when they shouldn't or when they desperately need them etc.

I am not saying what she is doing is the right thing or the wrong thing, but I think some of the replies on here have become borderline ridiculous. I can't see myself posting here again as a number of the replies are unhelpful and with a 'not very nice' tone.

I would like to comment that learning to drive and buying a car does not, in my mind, mean that she is 'blowing' 5k, and she has been assessed as being safer by doing so by police and local authorities. Some people are quick to judge... "

Thank You

Oldernotwiser

wiiinning wrote: »

I would like to comment that learning to drive and buying a car does not, in my mind, mean that she is 'blowing' 5k, and she has been assessed as being safer by doing so by police and local authorities. Some people are quick to judge...

Unfortunately (or possibly fortunately) your opinion won't count when the decision is made.

karenx

I really dont think the government will allow her to spend say 5k on her driving test and new car and still give her full benefits. Thats not a life or death necessity or even something that is needed asap. Things like a new fridge if hers is broken is ok, or a weekend break etc that doesnt cost thousands. But not all you are suggesting. She should get a job then save up and she wont have to worry about her savings limits.
I know you have said she has had a rough time but so has alot of people, and alot are worse off than your friend.
With 18k savings, she will get no income support or housing benefit so will have to pay her rent herself. Then once down below 16k she can apply again and these benefits will be paid at a reduced amount, but only if she hasnt gone and blown 2k over night it will have to of been on daily bills etc.

tagq2

karenx wrote: »

Things like a new fridge if hers is broken is ok, or a weekend break etc that doesnt cost thousands.

I think OP might be overestimating the cost of an old banger for learning in, but I see nothing wrong with wanting to improve oneself - and increasing the chance of finding employment - by learning to drive.

I know you have said she has had a rough time but so has alot of people, and alot are worse off than your friend.

This is like a reverse reductio ad Hitlerum: "it's acceptable because it's not as bad as Hitler". For every bad thing happening to someone there's something even worse happening to someone else, but the aim must surely be to lift people up rather than keep everyone in equal misery.

With 18k savings, she will get no income support or housing benefit so will have to pay her rent herself.

I think the rules are more complex than that. This wasn't simply a lottery win or an inheritance. I doubt the windfall will be counted immediately.

wiiinning

Thanks again for the replies. Obviously I'm not going to say what actually happened to her etc, but the perpetrator got an indeterminate sentence for public protection, in case that puts into context a little what level of violence we are discussing?! In relation to learning to drive, I have almost definitely over-estimated cost of driving, but hey ho, worse things have happened. The point is, as I said earlier, the police and other professionals have said her and her son will be safer if she can drive, and I can't see a council going against their police service on a matter like that? Maybe I am wrong, and maybe she shouldn't be on benefits etc etc etc...even if I am I think that one shouldn't judge.

thistledome

A relative of mine got almost £50k in compensation for an accident and he was told that the DWP didn't count that money when determining his entitlement to benefit. This was said by a benefits advisor who was employed by our local authority and who applied for benefits on his behalf. It wasn't put in a trust or anything, just a normal bank account.

From what's being said on here, this was wrong - was it?

wiiinning

Well tagq2 put up a link earlier which set out some rules for when the money is obtained from a personal injury claim. I haven't had time to properly look at it yet. One would have to hope that the advice given to your relative was correct

Jai_M

sorry, 50k, and help to sign on... The point is the benefits system is for your hour of need, not for you to have an easy life. no wonder were fubar'd now.

wiiinning

Jai, you really shouldn't comment when you don't know the full circumstances. You really shouldn't judge so quickly...