Incomes/Savings

poppy_dozen

Hi there,

I currently recieve DLA and Incapacity Benefits and also get housing benefits as I am signed off work.

I am wondering if anyone knows what my allowances of savings can be without affecting any of my benefits.

I am due a one off cheque which is to be divided between me and my 2 siblings and it has to be paid into one of our accounts..... mine is the only option as the others accounts are overdrawn.

Please can you help.... the cheque is for about £1500.00, I dont want any problems wirth my benefits so what amounts do I need to declare etc.

Many thanks

Scarlett1

1,500 wont affect any of your benefits, the upper limit for housing benefit is 12,000

poppy_dozen

Scarlett1 wrote:

1,500 wont affect any of your benefits, the upper limit for housing benefit is 12,000

Well this is what I thought however my friend says anything over £500 I have to declare... im so worried as I dont want any problems.

Scarlett1

poppy_dozen wrote:

Well this is what I thought however my friend says anything over £500 I have to declare... im so worried as I dont want any problems.

im not sure if you have to declare it or not as its a gift and i dont know the rules on it, but as its well under the limit you are allowed before you benefits are reduced you are fine, you could always ring up the DSS and make them aware of it and they can put it on your records

poppy_dozen

Its not so much a gift more of a payment.

bexmark_2

The upper limit for Housing Benefit is £16,000; anything above this will end your entitlement. If you have any savings at the moment, as long as the total with the cheque does not take it above £6,000 then it will not affect your entitlement. If it does, you will incur a tariff income of £1 notional capital for every £500 or part of above £6,000. Each £1 would reduce your HB by 65p and CTB by 20p. Basically if you are just above £6,000 with this cheque pay it in and take out some cash to bring your capital back down at the same time.

poppy_dozen

So now I feel a lot calmer about the housing and council tax benefits (I have no other savings).... what about my DLA and Incapacity Benefits?

bexmark_2

If you have no other capital or savings, then they should not be affected either; but if in doubt, give them a call in the morning; I'm not 100% sure, but the capital levels are roughly similar, (they may not even be means-tested benefits)

seven-day-weekend

My husband claims IB and we have never even been asked about savings.

The only thing they ask about is the amount of his Teachers' Pension.

Found this:

http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/vob/alzheimers/information/welfarebenefits.htm#incap

Incapacity benefit
This benefit may be claimed if someone under retirement age is unable to work because of an illness or disability and is not entitled to statutory sick pay. They must have paid sufficient national insurance contributions.

Incapacity benefit is a single benefit which replaced both sickness benefit and invalidity benefit on 13 April 1995. Anyone already receiving these benefits before that date will have been automatically transferred and should simply continue to send in medical certificates. People with a diagnosis of dementia will eventually be exempt from sending in certificates.

Incapacity benefit will be paid at three basic rates: a short-term lower rate for the first 28 weeks, a short-term higher rate for the remainder of the year and a long-term rate after one year. Those entitled to the highest rate of the care component of the disability living allowance can receive the long-term rate after 28 weeks.

Incapacity benefit is not affected by the person's income or savings. However, people claiming after 13 April 1995 may find that it is taxed. People with a diagnosis of dementia are exempt from being tested as to whether they are capable of work.

However the rules have changed as regards Occupaional Pensions and any pension over £80 will mean a reduction in IB.

zoezoe_3

payment for what ?