Inheritance and Pension Credits

pioneer22

Hey! My mum is due to get around £100k inheritance, and she's looking to use all or nearly all of this on a house and then will gift some to me. 
She's a couple of years off getting a state pension and will likely get pension credits as a top up. 
My Q is, is there a cut off period or qualifying period for Deprivation of Capital?
Thanks! 

KxMx

Buying a property to live in shouldn't count as DoC. 

tomtom256

The house, no, but gifting some to OP could be.

It all depends on timescales, amount gifted and whether they believe it was intentially gifted to increase any benefit entitlement.

poppy12345

If she's currently claiming any means tested benefits then because she's not yet state pension age once she receives the money into her bank then all her existing means tested benefits will stop and she needs to report the changes.

Buying a house will not be classed as deprivation of capital. Giving away any money will be classed as deprivation of capital.

pioneer22

poppy12345 said:

If she's currently claiming any means tested benefits then because she's not yet state pension age once she receives the money into her bank then all her existing means tested benefits will stop and she needs to report the changes.

Buying a house will not be classed as deprivation of capital. Giving away any money will be classed as deprivation of capital.

No means tested bens, they've stopped now. 
On your second point, giving away money. Is there a timescale for this? Or point that this runs from? We're like 3ish years away from claiming a state pension. 

poppy12345

State pension isn't means tested. Pension credit is but she's 3ish years away from claiming that so if she has the inheritance soon and buys a house with most of it then giving some money away is unlikely to affect means tested benefits in the future.

Mojisola

If she's been in rental accommodation up til now, is she sure that she will be able to fund the upkeep of a house on about £170 a week?  It would be prudent for her to keep the £10k she's allowed to have in savings for house emergencies.