Permitted Savings

SuperSeagull

What is the amount of savings a couple my have if both are pensioners to be entitled to housing benefit and council tax benefit.

Is it still £8000 and is that each or per claiming couple

pmlindyloo

SuperSeagull wrote: »

What is the amount of savings a couple my have if both are pensioners to be entitled to housing benefit and council tax benefit.

Is it still £8000 and is that each or per claiming couple

The lower limit is £10000 between them and the upper limit is £16000.

See here:

http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/advice-and-benefits/benefits/housing-benefit-and-council-tax-support-new-claim/calculation-of-housing-benefit-and-council-tax-support/?page=12393

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Unless they get Pension Credit Guarantee element - then they could have £250k or more and still get all their rent and Council Tax paid for by the taxpayer.

Although I think the Government are going to scrap these idiotic rules where pensioners have their capital disregarded if they receive it during their assessed income period.

SuperSeagull

So reading the link to Cornwall Council. Wife and I are allowed to have £16,000 to still be entitled to HB and Council Tax Benefit so I would assume the DWP have no need to be advised of a change in circumstances if it less than that amount.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

SuperSeagull wrote: »

So reading the link to Cornwall Council. Wife and I are allowed to have £16,000 to still be entitled to HB and Council Tax Benefit so I would assume the DWP have no need to be advised of a change in circumstances if it less than that amount.

If savings change then benefits will increase or decrease depending on if the savings go up or down. If savings reduce and the DWP are not notified then they could be losing out if they receive Pension Credit.

1) Contact Pension Service to see if they qualify for Pension Credit.

2) Apply with Local Authority for help with rent (if applicable) and Council Tax.

pauljan18

My Mother is 72 , and is about to receive £50,000 , from a claim made before my Fathers death,she has been told she can`t put some in Trust fund`s to save losing her benefit`s , could she gift some of the money to her children , to save her losing benefits , and would this cost her children as much in Tax as she would lose in benefits, she currently receives Housing benefit Council Tax and her State Pension

Indie_Kid

pauljan18 wrote: »

My Mother is 72 , and is about to receive £50,000 , from a claim made before my Fathers death,she has been told she can`t put some in Trust fund`s to save losing her benefit`s , could she gift some of the money to her children , to save her losing benefits , and would this cost her children as much in Tax as she would lose in benefits, she currently receives Housing benefit Council Tax and her State Pension

Giving the money to the children might be seen as deprivation of capital and she might be treated as still having it. Unless there's something in your father's will stating that £x goes to each of the children?

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Indie_Kid wrote: »

Giving the money to the children might be seen as deprivation of capital and she might be treated as still having it. Unless there's something in your father's will stating that £x goes to each of the children?

It will be seen as deprivation and she will still be treated as having the capital.

dippy3103

pauljan18 wrote: »

My Mother is 72 , and is about to receive £50,000 , from a claim made before my Fathers death,she has been told she can`t put some in Trust fund`s to save losing her benefit`s , could she gift some of the money to her children , to save her losing benefits , and would this cost her children as much in Tax as she would lose in benefits, she currently receives Housing benefit Council Tax and her State Pension

Does she get state pension or any private pensions? She'd keep those. She could use the £50 k to enjoy a nice standard of living rather than struggle by on benefits.

pauljan18

She only gets her state pension, and housing benefit etc, the money was for an asbestosis claim from my late Father,its a long story but she had to Sue the original solicitor for negligence , he died while original claim was on going , did not leave a will but told my Mum that was what he wanted, we personally don,t want the money but she is insisting on carrying out his wishes,is ther anything she can do to save her having her benefits cut , as she sees it as not gaining anything from the 7 years we have been fighting for this claim

confuseddaughter_2

pauljan18 wrote: »

She only gets her state pension, and housing benefit etc, the money was for an asbestosis claim from my late Father,its a long story but she had to Sue the original solicitor for negligence , he died while original claim was on going , did not leave a will but told my Mum that was what he wanted, we personally don,t want the money but she is insisting on carrying out his wishes,is ther anything she can do to save her having her benefits cut , as she sees it as not gaining anything from the 7 years we have been fighting for this claim

Unless I am missing the point, but I thought that all benefits that are means tested be it help towards the council tax, rent, being sick or out of work were for people that didn't have the money to pay for the basics of living costs themselves? If someone has £50,000 paid into their bank account shouldn't that be used to live off? I don't understand how someone can plead poverty one minute and expect to get this financial lifeline thrown to them whilst sitting on an absolute fortune the next? Maybe I am too naïve?