Benefit Fraud - Fessing Up.

Neelienew

paddedjohn wrote: »

I made a comment hinting that the OP was a troll early on in the thread but it was removed hsq.

Probably Andy.

BigAunty

Neelienew wrote: »

Probably Andy.

Not sure. Andy's MO is to openly brag about deceiving the benefits authorities and then blow up when challenged. He has a very indignant style. This OP accidentally slipped up managing their multiple accounts rather than explicitly crowing about benefit fraud and how much they are raking in through the RTB process (which Andy would do as he loves exaggerating about how he tricks the authorities).

sarbaloosa

Going back to this situation, apparently they informed the council of this Jewelry when they received it and visited the council several times about declaring it. Somewhere along the way something has gone skew whiff and the benefit forms have kept coming in, As the couple are unable to read and write English <and struggle to understand it>, the forms have been completed by friends or advice centers. They <the people completing the forms> have used previous submissions as a template.

There is going to be no hiding about this issue. I have informed them to contact the benefit agencies <Housing, Employment Support, Council Tax Team and Carers allowance> tomorrow and ask them to confirm if they have the necessary information on record that was brought to the councils attention moons ago.

It just sounds like a complete cok-up and a lost in translation type situation. Unlike the other thread, the friends I am posting on behalf of are not looking to swindle their way out of anything. They just want to make sure the record is straight, which clearly doesnt seem to be and pay what they owe.

Thanks Chicks

Morglin

As far as I know bequeathed family jewellery has no impact on a claim, or what anyone should be getting, and not counted as income.

If they sold the jewellery, and the money received took them over the savings thresholds, than it would have an impact, but in jewellery form, not being sold, I don't think it has.

However, this is a bit unusual and you would be better getting advice from professionals who understand all the rules and regulations.

Try giving the CAB a ring:

http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/getadvice.htm

Lin

sarbaloosa

Morglin wrote: »

As far as I know bequeathed family jewellery has no impact on a claim, or what anyone should be getting, and not counted as income.

If they sold the jewellery, and the money received took them over the savings thresholds, than it would have an impact, but in Tjewellery form, not being sold, I don't think it has.

However, this is a bit unusual and you would be better getting advice from professionals who understand all the rules and regulations.

Try giving the CAB a ring:

http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/getadvice.htm

Lin

Thank you Lin. Have a wonderful Christmas.

Its likely that they own 1000's and I hope their willingness to pay and their genuine mistake of claiming doesnt result in anything awful.

sarbaloosa

Someone has advised me that they simply call the necessary benefits agencies and tell them to stop them due to a change in circumstances that could see the entire matter go away. They have told me that they do not want to do this. They are absolutely adamant they want to tell the truth as they have never unintentionally claimed benefits from a few years ago.

I admire their stance in this and wish them the very best of luck. I will come back and let you know how it goes.

Thanks for all the replies.

Morglin

They could cancel all claims to means tasted benefits, and do not have to give a reason, but I would think they might be better finding out the rules first, from a professional.

As I said, I don't think any rules have been broken, and as you say they notified them anyway (first time I've ever heard of telling the DWP about a jewellery bequest!), then I don't see they have too much of a problem.

It would be fairly pointless to lose money if they are not doing anything wrong.

But, they can, if they choose, cancel the claim at any point, as no one has to claim anything.

Lin

Mojisola

sarbaloosa wrote: »

the wife had inherited some gold from a deceased member of her family worth up to the value of £150,000.

It can't be right that one person could inherit £20k in cash and find all their benefits are stopped and someone else could inherit £150k in jewellery but still carry on getting benefits.

If I put in my will that the executor was to convert any cash I leave into jewellery or art work or something similar, would that mean any of my beneficiaries who were on benefits could still receive them?

galante_inc

Its a simple fact that £150.000 of gold in jewellery isn't just as simple as a gift....it would have been considered an asset of a deceased persons estate, I would question was the inheritance tax paid first....that would be about £60K.. then I question one minute they haven't told the benefits agency / council and next minute they have... then I question if they knew the true value of this gold then why are they claiming from the Man....
Then who's paying the insurance on this mega amount of gold... oh but there paying for it with benefits from the Man

Well if they have told the benefits/council I hope they got a record of dates and times plus the person they saw...We are not just talking about a few months, we are talking of 4 years...
I now question why now after all this time are they fessing up ???? guilty about something or is it a simple fact that the net has closed in and there just looking for a way out

I'm just amazed that there are a lot of us that need the system to support us when we need just to survive, we don't have nights on the town, haven't much money for xmas, don't have holidays.... but I bet none of us have £150.000 in gold under the bed.... Certainly if I did I wouldn't be claiming from the Man

rogerblack

Mojisola wrote: »

It can't be right that one person could inherit £20k in cash and find all their benefits are stopped and someone else could inherit £150k in jewellery but still carry on getting benefits.

If I put in my will that the executor was to convert any cash I leave into jewellery or art work or something similar, would that mean any of my beneficiaries who were on benefits could still receive them?

The law is not about 'right' - when it comes down to its practice - the law is the law.

As above - if and only if it is agreed by the benefits people that jewellery is a personal possession is it exempt.

Personal possession does not mean 'something I own', but more than that.

A picture of the queen drawn by your recently deceased Aunt, and a picture of the queen in the form of a fiver may have the same monetary value - but it would be rather rare for someone to have any personal attachment to one particular fiver.

Proper estate planning can do 'unfair' things too.
If the deceased person properly sets up a trust, someone on benefits can have pretty much all their living expenses paid without it affecting their benefits at all.