Notifying DWP & Council

QuadDee

thanks for the advice

[Deleted User]

The property yes, the comp no unless it takes you over capital limits.

tboo

Owning other property and not living in it will have to be declared to both the DWP and council so they can decide if it has to be included or disregared etc

Link to Cheshire Council for example

Some forms of capital can be ignored for a short period of time or some will be ignored for ever. Some of these may include:

• Your home where you live
• Your previous home if it is up for sale
• Any property you own where an elderly or disabled relative lives
• Any property where work is being done to make it fit to live in
• A future interest in property. This is where you will only get the property when an event happens
• If you are taking legal action in order to occupy your home
• Money from the sale of your house which is to be used for the purchase of another property
• Arrears of benefits
• Special Government payments, such as former prisoners of war and CJD compensation payments.

If it is indeed classed as uninhabitable while you wait for repairs then you can ask the local council to exempt it for a while for council tax purposes - this is dependant on the LA's criteria though

The £200 each will have to be declared if your combined capital goes over the £6000/£16000 limit



**** Evening all.

My partner works 37.5 hours per week at minimum wage and i currently have an active ESA claim but don't actually receive any money for my ESA. I only get about £15.00 per week in housing benefit and the DWP pay my NI stamp. We also pay full council tax at the place we are living now.

Just wandered if anyone can tell me if i need to notify the DWP and Local Council over these two issues.

1) My father bought a house for my partner and I to help us get on the housing ladder and get a re-start on life. The house is in mine and my partners name but was paid for directly out of my fathers account with his money. Also the property is currently uninhabitable so we can't move in yet. My father is taking care of works so that we can move in.

Do i need to notify the DWP about the house purchase?

2) My partner and I received flight delay compo of £200 each for a delayed flight. Do i need to notifty the DWP over this?

I have looked on the .gov web site but it doesn't mention anything.

Thanks.
Q ****

QuadDee

Thanks guys.

tomtom256

QuadDee wrote: »

Thanks guys.

Does anyone actually know where it says that I must notify them regarding the house? I have looked online and can't find anything from the DWP or Government that says i must.

Humm....
Q

It's classed as capital for benefit purposes and presumably its worth over £16k?

As such you have to tell them under capital rules as you could sell it at any time.

NYM

QuadDee wrote: »

Thanks guys.

Does anyone actually know where it says that I must notify them regarding the house? I have looked online and can't find anything from the DWP or Government that says i must.

Humm....
Q

Is there any particular reason why you don't want to notify them?

I don't know what sites you've looked at but everyone I've seen state clearly that you must notify a change in circumstances. It may not specifically state you must tell them about a house, but it clearly does state that any changes must be notified.

Mersey_2

As a gift it wouldn't mean you've breached any rules, but should still be reported just so they don't begin a counter fraud investigation.


As it'll become your own property you're living in (once you move in), it won't be regarded as spare capital - as it would if eg they checked the Land Registry, saw you owned the house and suspected you were renting it out.


Re 2) no - redress is neither capital nor income to be declared. Nor are pools/lottery/a win on the Grand National [unless they take your net assets over £16k].

QuadDee

Thanks guys

marliepanda

QuadDee wrote: »

Well i dont see it as a change of circumstance.
And the official .gov web site only asks you to notify them if you/partner have a change in incomes, hours worked, if you start working, if your condition changes.

The house is an asset and not capital, so i don't think i need to?

You have a house and you're claiming housing benefit.

Think about it. They need to know.

[Deleted User]

My take on it is if parent/s have helped out, then they should support you in time of need, that is how it's viewed. No different to people who have partners on high incomes and then not eligible to receive benefit. Likewise those who have to proof xxx's involvement in their life when bank statements are viewed.

Sure makes it interesting as to what happen to more than a quarter who have received parental help with it comes to getting a house.

tyler2027

Regardless of whether you class something as an asset or capital, its held by the same rules


"Where a claimant or their partner holds property, shares or anything else that needs to be valued there are rules regarding how these are valued. Generally there are three steps to this process:

1. take the current market or surrender value of the investment item
2. then disregard 10% of that value if selling it would involve costs
3. then disregard any mortgage or loan secured on it

The market value of property is assessed by the Valuation Office Agency and Merton applies to them for a valuation to be done"




You have been gifted a property. This is a change of circumstances as its value increases your capital. Any change in capital may affect the small amount of housing benefit received. Therefore, as a condition of receiving benefits you are under a duty to report this change of circumstances.


It may be that as this will be your future home, they may disregard it for a period of time as its being made habitable as tboo has already informed you.


Once you move in, it will cease to be capital.


HTH


Ty


http://www.merton.gov.uk/advice-benefits/benefits/hb-ctb/benefitsclaim/hbctbsavings.htm