I inherited some land last year and it's apparently stopping me from most benefits

TELLIT01

hettyGreek wrote: »

It would be difficult to sell, and I would rather not as its been in the family for a long time and has been left to me with the intention to pass it on. If I was left a piece of jewelry this would be exempt and I wouldn't need to sell it, so I think the same should happen with this.

What you or I think doesn't matter. The regulations state that property cannot be disregarded so end of story. If you can show that you are actively trying to sell the land then it can be disregarded for 6 months.
If you believe you have grossly over valued the land you need to speak to DWP about it. Probably the first question you will be asked is how and why you came to over value it. Most people would be conservative when valuing, particularly given what you say about land values in Greece.
You have two options if DWP won't now accept a modified valuation. 1) Sell 2) Accept that once your period of entitlement to Contribution based JSA ends you will not receive any payment.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Why don't you qualify for any EU farming subsidies for your Olive Grove?

pickledonionspaceraider

Sell the land. It seems crazy to keep hold of this ''ball and chain'' that is costing you money

Floxxie

Housing_Benefit_Officer wrote: »

Why don't you qualify for any EU farming subsidies for your Olive Grove?

Absolutely and renting out the land for an income.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Floxxie wrote: »

Absolutely and renting out the land for an income.

Make it work for you. There is a ready market for extra virgin olive oil produced by artisans in some of the trendy food places in London - get an organic certificate and it could sell for £10 to £15 per litre. Each tree could make you hundreds of pounds. It seems a criminal waste that an olive grove cared for for nearly 100 years by your ancestors is being allowed to overgrow with no care and attention with many thousands of pounds of olives left to rot on the ground. If you aren't caring for it and are only holding onto it for sentimentality and have no intention of making it work for you then sell it to someone who will care and look after it and make a living from it.

happenstance

hettyGreek wrote: »

Yes that was indeed an extra 0. The valuation was €25'000.00 - no where near a quarter of a million! This valuation was probably far too high, especially how things are at the moment.

The olives don't rot on the trees, they fall off the trees and there they rot. It's not commercially viable due to its size and location. Would have to be hand picked and unless I could sell the oil for a very very high price it would not make any return.

It would be difficult to sell, and I would rather not as its been in the family for a long time and has been left to me with the intention to pass it on. If I was left a piece of jewelry this would be exempt and I wouldn't need to sell it, so I think the same should happen with this.

Could you give me more information on putting it up for sale and ignoring it for 26 weeks or more? Is that after 26 weeks it would be ignored? I'm currently trying to get an up to date valuation, but it is difficult with its location, would they accept a link to a similar piece of land thats up for sale for evidence of its value?

I'm currently just receiving contributions based job seekers allowance and child benefit. I don't seem to be able to upload images here but I have posted on another forum for views on this my calculations from entitled to. pettygripes.com/discussion/1054/my-olive-groves-stop-me-from-claiming-benefits

Should I be entitled to anything else?

pettygripes.com/discussion/1054/my-olive-groves-stop-me-from-claiming-benefits

This is your figures it looks like. Can't you get working tax credits as well?

I would just sell it to a family member and when your situation improves buy it back. Of course this might cause deprivation of wealth issues and these are a minefeild. But if you sold it for a few thousand and lived off that you wouldn't be forced to jump though many hoops.

freezspirit

Is it possible for you to go to Greece, video/photo land and get a written valuation of land as proof of its current state and value.

If you transferred to your children would it still count?

tomtontom

freezspirit wrote: »

Is it possible for you to go to Greece, video/photo land and get a written valuation of land as proof of its current state and value.

If you transferred to your children would it still count?

Another one that thinks it is ok to play the system!

Housing_Benefit_Officer

freezspirit wrote: »

Is it possible for you to go to Greece, video/photo land and get a written valuation of land as proof of its current state and value.

If you transferred to your children would it still count?

Deprivation of capital rules.

freezspirit

Sorry it was a genuine question about transfer to children but thanks for clarification - Deprivation of capital.

If you can get official papers showing current value of land it will need to also be translated into English and certified it may help your case.