JobCentre Plus Looking into Bank Accounts

VeeBee8151

The JobCentre wrote to me asking me to an appointment, where they looked through my Bank Statements to see if I was getting money elsewhere and whether they felt I was entitled to JobSeekers Allowance. My son has been paying money into my account occasionally as I have been short of funds. They say that if he's doing that, I don't need to be on JobSeekers and want proof that he is the holder of the account that's transferring money into my bank account. Can they look into his accounts? Even if he isn't on any benefits?

rogerblack

The thing they're wondering about is if in fact you are in control of the account, and are paying yourself money.
It is generally quite acceptable to gift people money on JSA, especially if the payments are irregular.
The gifts are not counted as income.

In principle, they have no right to look at his accounts.
However, if you (he) does not supply them, your benefit may be stopped, as it's assumed you control the account, and have money you're not declaring in there.

This will be problematic to get restarted, even if you eventually win at appeal.

An alternative would be a signed statement from him, that account x sort code y, is controled by him, you have no right to any money in the account, have never transferred any money into the account in any way, and any money transfered was solely a gift, and not payment in any way for anything.

Probably providing the accounts is most likely to not result in benefit stopping while you have to prove your innocence though.

sja75

Wow... Do the DWP just pick people at random or do they have to have just cause' in requiring claimants to submit bank statements?

missapril75

sja75 wrote: »

Wow... Do the DWP just pick people at random or do they have to have just cause' in requiring claimants to submit bank statements?

If the declared balance is close to the amount at which the capital held might make a difference, statements need to be supplied.

If there was something to make them think something wasn't quite right, they could also ask or ask for more.

This would include things like transfers to/from another account; being made redundant after enough time to have received a few thousand quid but no capital declared; a previous claim with a hefty bank balance that has disappeared with no explanation......

Gaz1971

How did they find out about these payments in the first place?

busy_mom_2

Gaz1971 wrote: »

How did they find out about these payments in the first place?

Because any tax you pay on any money in an account in your name or registered at your address. You would be very surprised what they can do and find out.

Mara69

VeeBee8151 wrote: »

The JobCentre wrote to me asking me to an appointment, where they looked through my Bank Statements to see if I was getting money elsewhere and whether they felt I was entitled to JobSeekers Allowance. My son has been paying money into my account occasionally as I have been short of funds. They say that if he's doing that, I don't need to be on JobSeekers and want proof that he is the holder of the account that's transferring money into my bank account. Can they look into his accounts? Even if he isn't on any benefits?

Could you clarify how occasionally is occasionally and how much money?

Lou67

Probably a lesson to be learned here. Whenever you get any money from anyone, at any time, don't bank it... Just spend it on food etc.

That said, I thought that you had to have more than six grand before your benefits were affected.

midnight_express

it could be seen as income rather than savings.

Elvisia

I had an ISA and I got hauled in as they said they wanted to know how much exactly was in it as they couldn't 'see' it, so I assume that is because when I had first signed on I declared my ISA with all the squillions of pounds I had in there, and their computer spat up randomly that I had an ISA and they wanted to see how much I had in there. I guess they weren't able to see what tax I was paying on it.

It's just a complete pain in the nuts when you're on JSA, you can't do anything with your bank account. I look after my parents so often I buy things for them and they pay me the money, so my savings go up and down but it's not my money. I know there are people who fiddle the system but it's jolly stressful for the rest of us who get cross questioned for nothing.

antonic

ISA`s are declared to HMRC each year, and HMRC DO share data with DWP.

Perhaps thats where the DWP got the info from.

Elvisia wrote: »

I had an ISA and I got hauled in as they said they wanted to know how much exactly was in it as they couldn't 'see' it, so I assume that is because when I had first signed on I declared my ISA with all the squillions of pounds I had in there, and their computer spat up randomly that I had an ISA and they wanted to see how much I had in there. I guess they weren't able to see what tax I was paying on it.

It's just a complete pain in the nuts when you're on JSA, you can't do anything with your bank account. I look after my parents so often I buy things for them and they pay me the money, so my savings go up and down but it's not my money. I know there are people who fiddle the system but it's jolly stressful for the rest of us who get cross questioned for nothing.