Whats likely to happen

petercauks

A family member has been caught with nearly 21k savings in cash at home however this person is classed as severely disabled and mentally impaired (autism) and has been claming higher rate pip/esa for 5 years.
the money has just built up over the years because they have very little expenses (no kids/car/no alcohol and doesn't smoke.
What is likely to happen to this person, will the fact she is mentally impaired help her to get off lightly or is she likely to have to pay back a large sum of money?
Many thanks

elsien

petercauks wrote: »

A family member has been caught with nearly 21k savings in cash at home however this person is classed as severely disabled and mentally impaired (autism) and has been claming higher rate pip/esa for 5 years.
the money has just built up over the years because they have very little expenses (no kids/car/no alcohol and doesn't smoke.
What is likely to happen to this person, will the fact she is mentally impaired help her to get off lightly or is she likely to have to pay back a large sum of money?
Many thanks

Are they mentally impaired enough to need an appointee?
Because if not it's their responsibility to declare relevant changes in circumstances including savings levels, and every benefit letter they get tells them that.
If they have an appointee then it's the appointees responsibility.

marliepanda

The ESA if income based will have an overpayment.

At the end of the day if their expenses are so low as to buildup 21k then it’ll be no hardship to pay any back. Everyone will be fine

Alice_Holt

PIP won't be affected as it's not means tested.

ESA - depends if it's Contribution based or Income based. (Contribution based is not affected).

Housing Benefit and Council Tax support will be affected.

They (or their appointee) should get advice from the local advice agency / CAB.

Who "caught [them] with nearly 21k savings in cash at home". DWP or local council? Who have they informed of these savings?

nicetomeetyou

Unless you can prove they lack capacity which is hard without them having a appointee they’ll have to pay the overpayment back. It probably won’t go further then that. Many people on the autistic spectrum manage okay. I don’t class somebody as severely mentally impaired if they have the capacity to manage own benefits without a appointee. Socially they may be impaired but if they are living independently they aren’t severely impaired and the DWP will think the same.

[Deleted User]

OP I'm at a loss to imagine "who caught them" ? Did the DWP or Council get a search warrant and find the money in the house? I'm always a bit suspicious of a first time poster and a story like this,I'm sorry to say, maybe I've been around too long?

poppy12345

venison wrote: »

OP I'm at a loss to imagine "who caught them" ? Did the DWP or Council get a search warrant and find the money in the house? I'm always a bit suspicious of a first time poster and a story like this,I'm sorry to say, maybe I've been around too long?

Indeed, especially as the OP hasn't returned. I'm thinking school holidays in some parts of the country..

antrobus

venison wrote: »

OP I'm at a loss to imagine "who caught them" ? Did the DWP or Council get a search warrant and find the money in the house? I'm always a bit suspicious of a first time poster and a story like this,I'm sorry to say, maybe I've been around too long?

Well, "this person is classed as severely disabled and mentally impaired", and therefore the council might be providing care. One of the carers might have come across a cupboard drawer stuffed with dosh.

I don't know. Perhaps the OP will return to explain the exact circumstances. Or perhaps not.

System

im a curious as the others.how did authorities find out