deprivation of capital

HappyMJ

pstuart wrote: »

Is it not beyond the wit of the OP to phone the DWP, as I have done in the past, to clarify certain things and ask their advice.

Never given them my name or number, they have been happy to help.

The answer you get will be as random as flipping a coin. The rules are also different between DWP and the council. I don't claim any DWP benefits but I do claim a means tested benefit - housing benefit. The council refuse to speak with me. Everything between me and the council is only ever done in writing, it takes months to get them to respond and they never commit to anything.

skintandscared_2

Why would you ring the DWP, or anybody, when you don't claim ANY benefits and are just spending your wages?

ads2312

interested as it's likely I will be made redundant next year. Have 15k in saving which I'm thinking about sticking in the mortgage now, guess they can do nothing as technically im still employed

skintandscared_2

ads2312 wrote: »

interested as it's likely I will be made redundant next year. Have 15k in saving which I'm thinking about sticking in the mortgage now, guess they can do nothing as technically im still employed

And who knows what will happen next year?! You could have another job lined up or get a payout that lasts you long enough to find a new job and never have to sign on. Or the redundancies could be stopped altogether. Or (hopefully not) you could be run over by a bus tomorrow!! Seriously, while I am earning a wage and not claiming anything from the benefits system I would not let it even enter my consciousness that it is anybody else's business what I do with my hard earned money!

Miroslav

Below is what I put on another thread. My friend hasn't claimed any benefit for 18 months, but if their is a chance, which their always is for anyone, that you need to claim in the future, be aware that they may want to know how you have spent your money in the time since you last claimed if you have claimed in the past. As OP has not stated if they have claimed in the past, i'll post anyway.

If you've never claimed, then ignore my post as it's your cash, spend it as you wish!


My friend has spent £17k in 18 months, which includes rent, council tax, living costs (Bills, food, clothes etc) and she is being denied ESA even though her savings are now running dry.

Their appears to be no exact formula for how they say what is fair and what is not and it depends on who is dealing with the claim. She was told however that cars and holidays were not permissable unless she could prove it was a need as opposed to something she wanted to do.

They now want to see every receipt for everything she has bought in the last 18 months (including groceries, coffee shop receipts - the lot) which is impossible.

Their is no black and white and you may have to provide evidence of everything you spend.

mealone

Miroslav wrote: »

Below is what I put on another thread. My friend hasn't claimed any benefit for 18 months, but if their is a chance, which their always is for anyone, that you need to claim in the future, be aware that they may want to know how you have spent your money in the time since you last claimed if you have claimed in the past. As OP has not stated if they have claimed in the past, i'll post anyway.

If you've never claimed, then ignore my post as it's your cash, spend it as you wish!


My friend has spent £17k in 18 months, which includes rent, council tax, living costs (Bills, food, clothes etc) and she is being denied ESA even though her savings are now running dry.

Their appears to be no exact formula for how they say what is fair and what is not and it depends on who is dealing with the claim. She was told however that cars and holidays were not permissable unless she could prove it was a need as opposed to something she wanted to do.

They now want to see every receipt for everything she has bought in the last 18 months (including groceries, coffee shop receipts - the lot) which is impossible.

Their is no black and white and you may have to provide evidence of everything you spend.

It only matters for income based ESA, if she had the required NI conts. she wouldnt have a problem but when you go cap in hand pleading poverty you have to explain where a significant amount of savings went in a short time.

They will allow her a reduction in saving equivilent to the rate of ESA and for any more they want to see where the money went, they dont want ever coffee reciept etc. as that would be stupid....

[Deleted User]

kennethw wrote: »

obliged for confirmation of this as local CAB advise that spending money to make up a shortfall in housing benefit ie to pay my rent/council tax means that I am committing the criminal offence of deprivation of assets which is why I have read this thread

At least a centuary ago, I would have been deported to start a new life down under....

CAB are wrong you can make rent/c.tax payments,also debt repayments that are due and normal(i.e. not repaying debt to get rid of cash)

nannymiaow

mealone wrote: »

It only matters for income based ESA, if she had the required NI conts. she wouldnt have a problem but when you go cap in hand pleading poverty you have to explain where a significant amount of savings went in a short time.

They will allow her a reduction in saving equivilent to the rate of ESA and for any more they want to see where the money went, they dont want ever coffee reciept etc. as that would be stupid....

To be fair, £17k in 18 months is only £950 (ish) a month. Considering she was paying rent and CT, that is not excessive spending.

Miroslav

mealone wrote: »

It only matters for income based ESA, if she had the required NI conts. she wouldnt have a problem but when you go cap in hand pleading poverty you have to explain where a significant amount of savings went in a short time.

They will allow her a reduction in saving equivilent to the rate of ESA and for any more they want to see where the money went, they dont want ever coffee reciept etc. as that would be stupid....

Well, to be fair, she was told she could and should have started claiming a reduced ESA payment about 10 months ago. She didn't and didn't want too.

Remarkably she's been told that she needs every receipt regardless of what for, although I am getting the sense the person she has been dealing with is trying to be as obstructive as possible.

She understands she'll get a reduced rate, but she won't get anything until she provides all receipts.

Also bear in mind the letter looks like something an illiterate High School Student would write. Her name is wrong, her NI Number is wrong and it's dated 2012.

nannymiaow wrote: »

To be fair, £17k in 18 months is only £950 (ish) a month. Considering she was paying rent and CT, that is not excessive spending.

Bear in mind also that £1300 of that £17k was to pay off a primary debtor, which she can provide evidence for (letters etc).

That aside, she's not spent 3 figures on anything and has looked after her money well.

NASA_2

kennethw wrote: »

obliged for confirmation of this as local CAB advise that spending money to make up a shortfall in housing benefit ie to pay my rent/council tax means that I am committing the criminal offence of deprivation of assets which is why I have read this thread

At least a centuary ago, I would have been deported to start a new life down under....

CAB often talk the biggest load of !!!!, ignore them.

If you are not on benefits currently, are not under notification of redundancy etc. or otherwise expecting to be on benefits then it is hard to imagine a scenario where a DM could find that you have deprived yourself of capital.

Again I feel the need to say that CAB are often terrible at giving advice. They have some great advisers but many appear to be clueless amateurs.