Income support and cash gift

sacapuntas

My husband an I are separating and I'm going to be applying for income support as soon as my child benefit claim comes in. Because I'm set to have zero income/money until everything goes through, my grandmother has given me money to cover rent and bills for a few months (a total of about £2500) that I have in cash at the moment, but I want to deposit into my bank account. She won't be giving me any more money or any regular payments or anything like that. Will this count against me for my income support application? An advisor I had called to ask some questions said they might check my bank account to see that I have no income, which is fine, but will they look at this money as income? Like I said, it's completely a one-off and not going to happen again.

1) I know it's under the £6000 savings threshold, but will they see it as "income" and not award income support (lone parent)?
2) How do I note this on my tax credit application, since it only asks for last year's income? Or does it not have to be listed since it's a gift?

Thank you for any info!

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow

it should not affect your income support as it is underneath the threshold. You do have to declare it for tax credits purposes but if that is your only income for the year you should still receive the full amount.

sacapuntas

Thanks so much!