Deprivation of capital small inheritance

sprokitz

Hello. I've been reading some of the threads on this issue and still not sure what to do. I am self employed and get HB to top up my rent. My income fluctuates quite a bit due to the way I am paid. Which means the balance in my bank goes up and down. Recently my mother died and I got a small amount of money ,just over £3500.
When it went into my account, my balance was below the 6000 limit. First of all do I need to declare this if it is below the 6000 figure. I noticed that my capital the last time Hb got my statements was around 3200..way back in April...but went down since then as I had no earnings coming in. Would they assume I should still have the same balance.
We are talking only about 700 over if they added it together...I had the usual electric bills etc.
Will I run into d o c issues with such a small amount.

seven-day-weekend

AFAIK, they won't be interested in any amount under £6k.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

sprokitz wrote: »

Hello. I've been reading some of the threads on this issue and still not sure what to do. I am self employed and get HB to top up my rent. My income fluctuates quite a bit due to the way I am paid. Which means the balance in my bank goes up and down. Recently my mother died and I got a small amount of money ,just over £3500.
When it went into my account, my balance was below the 6000 limit. First of all do I need to declare this if it is below the 6000 figure. I noticed that my capital the last time Hb got my statements was around 3200..way back in April...but went down since then as I had no earnings coming in. Would they assume I should still have the same balance.
We are talking only about 700 over if they added it together...I had the usual electric bills etc.
Will I run into d o c issues with such a small amount.

If the capital is below £6k there will be no impact on the Housing Benefit claim.

However each council runs its own Council Tax Support scheme with different capital rules so it could impact on the amount of Council Tax help. Some Council have reduced the capital limit to £3,000.

sprokitz

Thanks for the help.
Do I need to worry though that my previous capital amount was higher than at the time i received the cheque and put it in. They surely can't expect it to remain static especially in a a business account. I tend to get paid lump sums which tends to make it see-saw. And I pay out for business expenses which sometimes takes it down with a jump. Or am I getting my knickers in a twist ( I suspect)...Most of the examples on here are people dealing with large lumps of inheritance..
I haven't had any info about a 3000 limit from my council so I think it must be same for mine Again thanks for all advice.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

sprokitz wrote: »

Thanks for the help.
Do I need to worry though that my previous capital amount was higher than at the time i received the cheque and put it in. They surely can't expect it to remain static especially in a a business account. I tend to get paid lump sums which tends to make it see-saw. And I pay out for business expenses which sometimes takes it down with a jump. Or am I getting my knickers in a twist ( I suspect)...Most of the examples on here are people dealing with large lumps of inheritance..
I haven't had any info about a 3000 limit from my council so I think it must be same for mine Again thanks for all advice.

Don't worry. There is something in the regulations that allows capital to exceed if normal monthly spending will reduce the capital amount. (i.e. savings £5,500 and monthly wages £1000 but monthly spending £1000 so capital treated as £5500 and not £6500). Also Housing Benefit payments are disregarded as they will go straight out again to pay the rent - Only taken into account if they remain in the account month after month and capital then exceeds.

sprokitz

Thanks HB, really appreciate you taking the time to set my mind at rest.