Benefit investigation

Oldernotwiser

I'm a bit confused, I thought that you said that you had this amount saved?

bengal-stripe

mojo4022

The lower limit used to be £3,000, and was raised to £6,000, in April of either 2005 or 2006. (Fran's reply is from March 2005.)

I cannot believe any official would have told you recently, it was still £3,000. After the lower limit is reached, deductions (as Fran has explained) are made from means-tested benefits, until the upper savings-limit of £16,000 is reached (when no means-tested benefits get paid, until the level of savings drops again below £16,000). £12,000 was never either a lower or an upper limit. You might have misunderstood that. Always do those things in writing, then you will get a written reply in return.

If your son’s savings have increased progressively, there would be a different rate of IS for virtually every week, once the capital has gone over the lower limit). Again, I cannot believe any official would have told you there is a flat rate of over-paid IS for every week since 2004.

You might want to contact you local CAB and let them go through the calculations.

Yes, it is your responsibility to keep up with the current legislation.

mojo4022

Thanks for the replies - just to make it clearer, I telephoned to tell them I had saved over the £3000 in Nov 2004 and was told the limits had been raised and was even told that I didn't need to do anything else. Each week I have managed to save a little from his pension and put it into an Isa for him. He was also left £2000 by my mother when she died recently. His Isa has now reached £10,000. I think that's when someone must have had another look at his benefits. As I said before they have already deducted £25 per week from his allowance. My son is not to blame for any of this as he is incapable of understanding or handling money. I still think its the wrong way round to expect us 'ordinary' pensioners to have to find these things out the hard way. Why don't they notify us when these limites get changed. The government are quick enough to tell us the amounts needed for car tax, Tv licence etc. Anyway will try the CAB on Monday, as I don't think its right that they want to reclaim it all back from him. and yes the money is still in his savings, I havn't gone out and spent it - it was put away for him, for his future when I'm gone.

krisskross

mojo4022 wrote: »

. I still think its the wrong way round to expect us 'ordinary' pensioners to have to find these things out the hard way. Why don't they notify us when these limites get changed. The government are quick enough to tell us the amounts needed for car tax, Tv licence etc. Anyway will try the CAB on Monday, as I don't think its right that they want to reclaim it all back from him. and yes the money is still in his savings, I havn't gone out and spent it - it was put away for him, for his future when I'm gone.

It is well documented that savings are taken into account when means tested benefits are awarded. The DWP are not trying to reclaim it all from him, just the overpayment. This is totally fair and I cannot imagine the CAB saying anything different.

I am an 'ordinary' pensioner but am aware that our savings preclude us from getting any means tested benefits.It is just a shame that you feel so hard done by after saving so much for your son.

SuziQ

They will deffinitely reclaim this I'm afraid-current policy is 100% recovery of all benefit overpayments.

All the benefit information now states clearly that it is joe publics' resonsibility to check on the rules and regs,this is why so many of us get caught out with CTC overpayments (if they can't get it right how are we supposed to?!)

Oldernotwiser

mojo4022 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies - just to make it clearer, I telephoned to tell them I had saved over the £3000 in Nov 2004 and was told the limits had been raised and was even told that I didn't need to do anything else. Each week I have managed to save a little from his pension and put it into an Isa for him. He was also left £2000 by my mother when she died recently. His Isa has now reached £10,000. I think that's when someone must have had another look at his benefits. As I said before they have already deducted £25 per week from his allowance. My son is not to blame for any of this as he is incapable of understanding or handling money. I still think its the wrong way round to expect us 'ordinary' pensioners to have to find these things out the hard way. Why don't they notify us when these limites get changed. The government are quick enough to tell us the amounts needed for car tax, Tv licence etc. Anyway will try the CAB on Monday, as I don't think its right that they want to reclaim it all back from him. and yes the money is still in his savings, I havn't gone out and spent it - it was put away for him, for his future when I'm gone.

You seem to be saving a large chunk of his benefits every week which is pretty pointless if it just means that he gets less! I'm sure you've meant well but it really won't help him if his income dries up when you go because he has to spend his savings!

cc74

Hello, just a quicky, I would love to thank everyone who replied to me back in 2005. Now 3 years later, I feel I have a whole new life. I've been working full time for 2 years, i no longer claim benefits. I have a lovely new fella, and my kids are fairly normal!

Just to let you know, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. I have mine and my kids health, and eventually, we worked it out.

The panick I felt back in 2005 stays with me, to feel you are being looked at all the time and back then, I should have known that I wasn't in any trouble, as I'd done nothing wrong, but I felt so vulnerable and desperate. So my heart goes out to you all when those letters come through the door. But remember, trust in yourself.

I am grateful I live in a country where the help is given to people who need help, I know we moan about things and checks etc but without the benefit system, my family would have fallen apart and the house would have gone.

Thanx again. CC