want to help, not make things worse

valk_scot

Birthday and Christmas presents of cash for her and her little girl, buy any school uniform or a winter coat each, grocery card, pocket money for GD, a few pounds here or there for a haircut or shoes or whatever. None of that is going to cause any problems I shouldn't think and it's the kind of thing most parents would do for a student daughter or one who was a single mum without even thinking about it.

BurnleyBob

I'm not too sure why the OP is making a melodrama out of this because she's submitted nothing that suggests her daughter is frivolous with finances.

Hand her £250 in cash on the same day of each month for 12 payments a year or every 28 days to make 13 payments rather than the rigmarole of paying her bills and/or gift cards which she might interpret as her parents not having enough faith in her.

Also, the anonymity of cash will make it next to impossible for any state snoopers to poke their long hooters into such an arrangement.

SandraScarlett

Well I don't think the OP is "making a melodrama" of this situation! She's just checking how to do this, and it's hardly defrauding on a huge scale!

The OP and her husband are trying to stay scrupulously within the law, but help their daughter out. What's wrong with that? Your first idea, of paying a monthly allowance into her account would be seen as regular income, but giving her some cash, groceries, paying for your grand-daughter's shoes etc, should be fine.

I hope your daughter achieves all that she wants to at Uni, and gets a fabulous job.

xx

lemontree

I pay my Son's Utl;ity Bills as he is on ESA and too ill to work. I would hate to think that he would be unable to heat his home due to the cost!
I have never considered this as fraud.

sniggings

the supermarket card would be my choice or sticking the money in a special delivery envolope each month and posting it to her.

trailingspouse

oo, that's the first time I've been called melodramatic!!

Sixer

Even regular cash gifts from family and/or friends to people on benefits do NOT count as income. They are voluntary payments. Decison maker's guide:

28493 A voluntary payment is a payment that
1. has a benevolent purpose and
2. is given without anything being given in return

28495 The DM should consider
1. the background to and
2. reasons for the payment when deciding if it is voluntary.

Example 1: Jim claims JSA. He declares that he gets a payment of £20 a week from his uncle, Peter, towards the cost of running his car. Peter makes the payment because Jim has been receiving JSA for some time and needs a car to get around. Peter makes the payment because of family ties and affection for Jim. Peter does not expect or receive anything in return. The DM decides that the £20 is a voluntary payment.

SandraScarlett

trailingspouse wrote: »

oo, that's the first time I've been called melodramatic!!

Well, this week, on the bus, a woman said to her son "get up and let that old lady sit down"!!:eek:

xx

rogerblack

lemontree wrote: »

I pay my Son's Utl;ity Bills as he is on ESA and too ill to work. I would hate to think that he would be unable to heat his home due to the cost!
I have never considered this as fraud.

It is not, and is entirely permitted.

sniggings

topaziem wrote: »

It may be permitted but to get to that point of acceptance that it is permitted, someone, somewhere is going to have to do a lot of proving and have sleepless nights in the meantime!

Never mind seeing their benefits stopped until it is sorted out.

You know what the DWP and Councils are like - very suspicious of anything that even hints at other income coming in whether it is permitted or not.

you may have a point but even if the person was accused of having extra income, an interview would be carried out first so they would have a chance to put their side across.

That is why it is best to not have a paper trail, money in hand is the best option but all anyone can do is play within the rules, worrying about the DWP getting the rules wrong is something out of our control, as long as the rules are followed the rest should work itself out.