Housing benefit with inheritance

racon

GirlFromMars wrote: »

No, otherwise all home owners out of work/incapacitated would be forced to sell their homes to live.

The home you live in is disregarded for capital purposes.

Hey, if I had my way ALL benefits would be charged to the property as a loan. That way those that are holding on to equity could afford to repay what they have had when the house is eventually sold.


You really shouldn't have people living in a fully paid up home valued at say £300,000 AND be given means tested benefits on top without not having to repay them. Talk about the rich getting richer - I know it could never happen, but if we were sat on say £1m home (free of any loan or mortgage) and claimed for say IS/ESA/JSA I would be so embarrassed to take the money.

GirlFromMars_2

racon wrote: »

Hey, I know it's not up to me, if it was I would close it down! Given what you have said they might as well buy the best home in the best area. No point in buying the same house in a poor area and having money in the bank then losing their benefits. I'm only talking about a nice, modern (3 year old) 3 bed detached, but because where it is situate there is a premium to pay on top. Modern/new houses are relatively easy and cheap to maintain.
I suppose they could say that they need the extra bedroom for another child that they might be planning, or that he might need the extra bedroom to use as an office as he is hoping to start self employment in the future working from home.


How would I get the definitive answer? Would it be a scenario to the DWP - what if sort of thing under the FOI?

Hopefully you'll be advising them to contact the DWP Decision Maker regarding their situation. Hopefully they will also find employment quickly, so they can get along with their lives and not have the spectre of IR benefits hanging over them. Sadly this isn't always an option for people with disabilities.

I've no idea how you would get clarification on the converting from one form of capital to another form rule, but I definitely something that is open to interpretation and could do with some clarification.

racon wrote: »

Hey, if I had my way ALL benefits would be charged to the property as a loan. That way those that are holding on to equity could afford to repay what they have had when the house is eventually sold.

You really shouldn't have people living in a fully paid up home valued at say £300,000 AND be given means tested benefits on top without not having to repay them. Talk about the rich getting richer -

I'm sure UKIP are trawling for policies at the moment, betting they'd be happy to hear from you!

As for the rich getting richer, they do very nicely thank you from BTL properties. Where do you think Local Housing Allowance actually goes?

Owning a home is a form of stability that people crave in this country, and who can blame them with the state of the property market as it is. I've no objections to people owning their own homes and receiving the benefits to which they are entitled at the same time. Even the income related ones. Don't forget, anyone owning their own home is no the responsibility of the Tax Payer when hosing costs spiral again and rents rise. The government's really going to be screwed when the super rich have brought up all the property from their Local Housing Allowance ill gotten gains and everyone is forced to rent at extortionate rates subsidised by the government.

Someone's going to own the house, why not the person who lives in it.

I know it could never happen, but if we were sat on say £1m home (free of any loan or mortgage) and claimed for say IS/ESA/JSA I would be so embarrassed to take the money.

So do you have the figures on people owning and living in £1m mansions & also claiming IS/ESA/JSA? I find this scenario exceptionally unlikely. As I've already mentioned homes have upkeep costs, and paying the heating for a £1m mansion alone would be impossible for anyone relying on IS/ESA/JSA for their regular income.

I also doubt that anybody in a position to live comfortably without IS/ESA/JSA would claim them unless absolutely necessary. It is a humiliating and degrading process, and in the case of people with disabilities it regularly exacerbates the illness in the first place.

racon

GirlFromMars wrote: »

Hopefully you'll be advising them to contact the DWP Decision Maker regarding their situation. Hopefully they will also find employment quickly, so they can get along with their lives and not have the spectre of IR benefits hanging over them. Sadly this isn't always an option for people with disabilities.

I've no idea how you would get clarification on the converting from one form of capital to another form rule, but I definitely something that is open to interpretation and could do with some clarification.


I'm sure UKIP are trawling for policies at the moment, betting they'd be happy to hear from you!

As for the rich getting richer, they do very nicely thank you from BTL properties. Where do you think Local Housing Allowance actually goes?

Owning a home is a form of stability that people crave in this country, and who can blame them with the state of the property market as it is. I've no objections to people owning their own homes and receiving the benefits to which they are entitled at the same time. Even the income related ones. Don't forget, anyone owning their own home is no the responsibility of the Tax Payer when hosing costs spiral again and rents rise. The government's really going to be screwed when the super rich have brought up all the property from their Local Housing Allowance ill gotten gains and everyone is forced to rent at extortionate rates subsidised by the government.

Someone's going to own the house, why not the person who lives in it.
So do you have the figures on people owning and living in £1m mansions & also claiming IS/ESA/JSA? I find this scenario exceptionally unlikely. As I've already mentioned homes have upkeep costs, and paying the heating for a £1m mansion alone would be impossible for anyone relying on IS/ESA/JSA for their regular income.

I also doubt that anybody in a position to live comfortably without IS/ESA/JSA would claim them unless absolutely necessary. It is a humiliating and degrading process, and in the case of people with disabilities it regularly exacerbates the illness in the first place.

Hey, certainly I will mention it to them. But to be honest knowing what they are like, the inheritance is more likely to be spent on cars, holidays, IT bits, clothes and partying. So the option of them actually investing in a property is virtually nil - they seem to favour living in a sh** 'ole and buying the latest TV package!
But the information that has come out in this thread is very interesting, both to the original OP and others including me. I will try a FOI application and see where I get.
Thanks

GirlFromMars_2

I'd be very interested to know if you manage to find anything out!

All I know is that in my situation two separate DMs who I sent long letters and spoke to personally both said it was fine, and ones I spoke to subsequently didn't mention any problems with what I'd done!

I'm sure I've heard of at least one other person who was allowed to buy their own place since I've been here (although who knows if I'm imagining that!).

I'm not sure anybody else on this forum has been in the position to actually get a decision from a DM, usually it's just been people interpreting the rules for themselves and deciding buying a house constitutes DoC. Although again I'd be really interested to know if anybody has written to a DM and got a negative response. (Asking the DWP/LA call centre does not count as they simply don't have the knowledge to make decisions like that, it has to be a Decision Maker!)

Good luck with the FOI request! And hope the family don't blow it on a lavish lifestyle & then end up in a DoC situation even without buying a house!

racon

GirlFromMars wrote: »

I'd be very interested to know if you manage to find anything out!

All I know is that in my situation two separate DMs who I sent long letters and spoke to personally both said it was fine, and ones I spoke to subsequently didn't mention any problems with what I'd done!

I'm sure I've heard of at least one other person who was allowed to buy their own place since I've been here (although who knows if I'm imagining that!).

I'm not sure anybody else on this forum has been in the position to actually get a decision from a DM, usually it's just been people interpreting the rules for themselves and deciding buying a house constitutes DoC. Although again I'd be really interested to know if anybody has written to a DM and got a negative response. (Asking the DWP/LA call centre does not count as they simply don't have the knowledge to make decisions like that, it has to be a Decision Maker!)

Good luck with the FOI request! And hope the family don't blow it on a lavish lifestyle & then end up in a DoC situation even without buying a house!

Hey & thanks - yes that would be amusing!!! I think my best option is to not say anything to them or give any more advice other than for them to contact the DWP if they wish.
Yes, I'll get on with it in the morning and will let you know what happens.