Council Tax benefit- reduce your savings?

susieliz

Does anyone know whether transferring savings to grandchildren- thus reducing to £6000 level- enables one to successfully claim council tax benefit?
I don't have much in savings but am over the limit.
Has anyone done this and is it legal?

msmicawber

Hi Susieliz,

I think that would be construed as intentionally depriving yourself of those savings in order to get benefits, so wouldn't recommend it.

CIS

Does anyone know whether transferring savings to grandchildren- thus reducing to £6000 level- enables one to successfully claim council tax benefit?
I don't have much in savings but am over the limit.
Has anyone done this and is it legal?

That would be deprivation of capital, expecially as its being done in a deliberate attempt to claim benefits.

From DWP

P2.303 A claimant should still be regarded as having deprived themself of a capital resource if they have disposed themself of it by way of a gift to a third party. However, they should not be regarded as depriving themself of it if they did it to HB Reg 42(2), CTB Reg 34(2)

suelees1

The upper capital limit for housing and council tax benefit is actually £16k if you're under 60 so you should still apply as you might still qualify for a reduced amount of CTB but this would obviously depend on your income as well as your savings. Claim to see if you have entilement.