Dental work and deprivation of assets

pmel64

Just been to the dentist and been told that I am going to have to have a front tooth removed. I have no root canal therefore need a denture, bridge or implant. I have savings but this is bringing me below the £16000 threshold. Is this classed as deprivation of assets. I could have the cheap option of a denture but really want the latter. Any help appreciated.

rogerblack

It depends on the attitude of the DM.
Budget matters - if for example you go for the top-of-the-line tooth with a diamond in the middle - clearly this is extremely questionable, and will probably be treated as deprivation.

The short answer is 'would a prudent person do this with their own money, if not receiving benefits'.

The slightly longer answer would be that you can ask for a decision in principle from a decisionmaker before going ahead with the spending.

pmel64

Thank you Roger - no it is definitely not going to be a bling tooth - just something that looks like the original.

skintandscared_2

I'm confused. Are you saying that if you have this work done you will use savings, taking your savings below £16,000 and you will therefore start claiming some form of benefit that you don't at the moment?

I can't see any other reason for it to matter if you go below £16k?

If that IS the problem, why don't you just get the dental work done, have your savings go below £16k and not then claim extra benefits? Then it doesn't matter what you spend the money on, surely?

letthemeatcake

I was thinking the same as skintandscared. Just get the work done as it is needed. However If you then try to claim benefits immediately because your savings are below £16000 they may well decide it is DOC. However I know most dental work treatment is necessary so you never know!

pmel64

No Skintandscared - just want to know if it is classed as deprivation of assets. I am spending it on something I see as important - and no I won't be getting any extra benefits.

Mojisola

pmel64 wrote: »

No Skintandscared - just want to know if it is classed as deprivation of assets. I am spending it on something I see as important - and no I won't be getting any extra benefits.

If you're not claiming means tested benefits that would be affected by reducing your capital to below £16k, no-one will even look at your spending, let alone class it as deprivation of assets!

pmel64

Thanks for your replies - I looked on a govt. website and found this -

"A person is not to be treated as depriving themselves of capital if they repay debts or make reasonable purchases of goods or services".

I consider the dental work to be a reasonable purchase of a service. At the end of the day an implant will last longer than the other options. Definitely on no means-tested benefits but when you have been made redundant (a few years ago) with absolutely no warning, given it that day and find yourself in the **** you can't help but being paranoid - especially when this dental treatment is a process that can take 6 months plus.

Hopefully lightning won't strike twice!!

midnight_express

It is only deprivation if you spend the money with the intention of depriving yourself of assets in order to claim benefits.
If you are working full time and lost your job you should be entitled to JSA CONTS for 26 weeks.
Benefits are paid at a reduced rate if you have between £6k and £16k.

missapril75

So the key issue is not whether it's a reasonable expense - it could, for example, be argued that there's an acceptable NHS treatment that would be subject to the maximum patient contribution (one doesn't have to "qualify" for NHS treatment on income grounds) - but that whether spending the money is done to get benefit or more benefit than would otherwise be due.

No means tested benefits are currently involved and spending the money is not going to lead to a benefits application.

What might lead to a benefits claim is an unplanned for change in circumstances some time in the future.

Horseunderwater

If you are with an NHS dentist then you can have the work done for a charge of £214 now. This covers dentures and all work associated with the procedure.