Inheritance / stopping benefits?

Yorkshireman99

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

Would that not depend on the necessity/rationale of the purchases?

Of course. What I was saying is to suddenly spend £12,000 on new household appliances or a ne car would not. It is not, as someone else suggested an easy task to strike a balance.

Mojisola

macman wrote: »

A DOV would also require the agreement of all the beneficiaries-not just your sister.

A DOV only requires the beneficiaries whose inheritance is adversely affected to agree to it.

buildersdaughter

I can both comment on this and advise caution. It's a situation I dealt with quite a bit before I retired - but that was 7 years ago, and although the principles remain the same, the practice may have changed.
The idea is that lump sums may be spent on things that would benefit the disabled children or the family as a whole. In my day, social workers would normally liaise with the Benefits Agency / local authority. However, specialised charities often had the knowledge and expertise to advise on what was allowable or not. Even if we knew the details, OP's sister would be best talking to one of those, as there are so many variables.
I have known, for instance, a house extension approved, in order to give a disabled person their own room and toilet / bathing facilities. A new washing machine will often be approved - and it is worth looking at a high quality one. I have known a specialised wheelchair (to enable sport participation) allowed, and a bed that makes the carer's job easier. But all of these depend on the disability, and existing facilities, especially those funded by the local authority or DWP; and take into account what claims the family already make on public funds.
However, I am only speaking from past experience.

in_my_bumble_opinion

If she's a full time carer then she probably receives Carer's Allowance which would not be affected as it's not means-tested.

Child benefit would also be unaffected.

Her Income Support would stop but how much does that add up to compared to the two above....it may not be very much?

If the affected amount is not very large then she could just cease her income support claim now by writing a letter saying she no longer wishes to claim from a particular date. People will be quick to tell you that she must give a reason for ending her claim, but a letter saying she wants to stop claiming will be accepted....she may want to do this before receiving the money.

As I said, important to work out which of her entitlements are actually affected. Very easy to do.