Can I save for my children's futures without it affecting my housing benefit?

BigAunty

keaton wrote: »

I take it you are assuming I'm on all sorts of benefits, I'm not, neither is my partner. We get a small amount of housing benefit each week, because even though we work, it is not enough.

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You indicated in a thread in November that you are in receipt of tax credits, in recent threads you have mentioned HB and council tax discount. Generally if households qualify for tax credits/HB/CT discount, they can also qualify for child benefit, sometimes working tax credit, too.

We often see on this forum people in receipt of tax credits who don't regard them as part of the benefit system, even though they are income means tested.

Also, in the past, child benefit was not means tested and it was formerly a 'universal' benefit, so was also seen as something outside of the benefits system because every child could have a claim submitted.

Lioness_Twinkletoes

keaton wrote: »

That's not what I'm saying, I'm saying lots of people use child benefit on alcohol or cigs or nights out for themselves.

I just want to put whatever I can afford, as little as that may be into a account to help my children and am being bullied for doing so.

You are not being bullied. You are being criticised. There is a difference.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Why not do what certain people do and put your money into Gold Sovereigns or 9 carrot gold necklaces from the local pawn shop. Nobody will question you for withdrawing cash and then buying gold. Benefit forms don't ask you about gold jewellery. Gold can be swapped for cash easily.

Caz3121

I personally think many of the responses on here may have been different of the info in post 10 around putting £5 a week away, which is different to other posts there have been about hiding £1,000s in savings under kids names to make sure their benefits were untouched. If keeping the money in OPs own account and saving it over the next 15 years would not get to a level that would affect means tested benefits

allison445

I thought this forum was about helping people at the end of the day its an individuals choice what they spend there money on.
If you want to save for a rainy day and you have extra money to do so why shouldn't you.
Benefits come and go they are not a guaranteed income.
I personally would rather have the savings.

allison445

We have people who open an account in the childs name and then use it a a bank for household spending - therefore we don't consider it the childs capital but the claimants.

The capital has to be in the childs name and the parent cannot have access to it.

We never disregard a childs capital at face value - we always ask for proof of the account and claimants access to the funds.[/QUOTE]


I stand corrected I automatically assumed the op was genuinely saving for her child's future so any money would be in the child's name and in a suitable account.
I didn't like others think the op was trying to commit fraud by hiding savings.

SnooksNJ

Lioness_Twinkletoes wrote: »

You are not being bullied. You are being criticised. There is a difference.

Of course the OP implying my parents don't care about me because they spent child benefits on alcohol isn't bullying at all.
Awesome!!

nannytone_2

SnooksNJ wrote: »

Of course the OP implying my parents don't care about me because they spent child benefits on alcohol isn't bullying at all.
Awesome!!

get a grip.

someone you don't know, or care about said they spent THEIR child benefit on their children rather than on fags and bppxe.

you're the only one taking it as a personal attack on your parents.

it isn't being bullied.... its you taking it out of context

Andypandyboy

Housing_Benefit_Officer wrote: »

Why not do what certain people do and put your money into Gold Sovereigns or 9 carrot gold necklaces from the local pawn shop. Nobody will question you for withdrawing cash and then buying gold. Benefit forms don't ask you about gold jewellery. Gold can be swapped for cash easily.

Is that an appropriate comment from someone in your position?;)

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Andypandyboy wrote: »

Is that an appropriate comment from someone in your position?;)

Gold prices can go up as well as down.