Universal Credit + Carers - New Claimant

NewburyVilla

calcotti said:

Are UC aware that you are caring so you get the carer element added to your UC calculation?

One final question (I promise). At some point soon I'll need some dental work. I'm in pain due to a failed root canal. Some days it's fine, some days I'm in agony. Anyway, I'll probably need an implant which would cost around 2k. 

Am I best off letting them now in advance I'm getting it done to avoid them accusing me of "deprivation of assets", just keeping the receipts, or just go ahead & get it done without telling them? 

As I said I just want to keep everything above board 

pmlindyloo

NewburyVilla said:

calcotti said:

Are UC aware that you are caring so you get the carer element added to your UC calculation?

One final question (I promise). At some point soon I'll need some dental work. I'm in pain due to a failed root canal. Some days it's fine, some days I'm in agony. Anyway, I'll probably need an implant which would cost around 2k. 

Am I best off letting them now in advance I'm getting it done to avoid them accusing me of "deprivation of assets", just keeping the receipts, or just go ahead & get it done without telling them? 

As I said I just want to keep everything above board 

There is absolutely no reason to tell them.

You are actually allowed up to £16000 in capital when claiming UC (called the upper limit)
The lower limit is £6000 which means that you are allowed £6000 without any penalties.

Any amount between £6000 and £16000 has a tariff income applied to it.  This means that any amount over the £6000 has £4.35 per month deducted from their UC for every £250 over the £6000.

Deprivation of assets can only occur if you have over £6000 in capital.

If you fancy a read (and have time) it is explained here:

ADM Chapter H1 (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Please don't worry about asking questions.  Lots of knowledgeable people on here who are happy to help.

NewburyVilla

pmlindyloo said:

NewburyVilla said:

calcotti said:

Are UC aware that you are caring so you get the carer element added to your UC calculation?

One final question (I promise). At some point soon I'll need some dental work. I'm in pain due to a failed root canal. Some days it's fine, some days I'm in agony. Anyway, I'll probably need an implant which would cost around 2k. 

Am I best off letting them now in advance I'm getting it done to avoid them accusing me of "deprivation of assets", just keeping the receipts, or just go ahead & get it done without telling them? 

As I said I just want to keep everything above board 

There is absolutely no reason to tell them.

You are actually allowed up to £16000 in capital when claiming UC (called the upper limit)
The lower limit is £6000 which means that you are allowed £6000 without any penalties.

Any amount between £6000 and £16000 has a tariff income applied to it.  This means that any amount over the £6000 has £4.35 per month deducted from their UC for every £250 over the £6000.

Deprivation of assets can only occur if you have over £6000 in capital.

If you fancy a read (and have time) it is explained here:


Please don't worry about asking questions.  Lots of knowledgeable people on here who are happy to help.

Brilliant. Thanks.

If my savings crept over £6k (which it may do at some point), obviously I would notify them to reduce my benefit, but would I need to notify them then about the dental work then? Or because it falls under health/justifiable spending, is it ok to go ahead without their consent

Thanks 

calcotti

NewburyVilla said: If my savings crept over £6k (which it may do at some point), obviously I would notify them to reduce my benefit, but would I need to notify them then about the dental work then? 

No you would not. You are not required to justify every bit of expenditure.

NewburyVilla

calcotti said:

NewburyVilla said: If my savings crept over £6k (which it may do at some point), obviously I would notify them to reduce my benefit, but would I need to notify them then about the dental work then? 

No you would not. You are not required to justify every bit of expenditure.

Thank you. 

I do appreciate all the help.

pmlindyloo

NewburyVilla said:

pmlindyloo said:

NewburyVilla said:

calcotti said:

Are UC aware that you are caring so you get the carer element added to your UC calculation?

One final question (I promise). At some point soon I'll need some dental work. I'm in pain due to a failed root canal. Some days it's fine, some days I'm in agony. Anyway, I'll probably need an implant which would cost around 2k. 

Am I best off letting them now in advance I'm getting it done to avoid them accusing me of "deprivation of assets", just keeping the receipts, or just go ahead & get it done without telling them? 

As I said I just want to keep everything above board 

There is absolutely no reason to tell them.

You are actually allowed up to £16000 in capital when claiming UC (called the upper limit)
The lower limit is £6000 which means that you are allowed £6000 without any penalties.

Any amount between £6000 and £16000 has a tariff income applied to it.  This means that any amount over the £6000 has £4.35 per month deducted from their UC for every £250 over the £6000.

Deprivation of assets can only occur if you have over £6000 in capital.

If you fancy a read (and have time) it is explained here:


Please don't worry about asking questions.  Lots of knowledgeable people on here who are happy to help.

Brilliant. Thanks.

If my savings crept over £6k (which it may do at some point), obviously I would notify them to reduce my benefit, but would I need to notify them then about the dental work then? Or because it falls under health/justifiable spending, is it ok to go ahead without their consent

Thanks 

If your savings go over the £6000 (and you notify them) and then you spend money then it becomes more complicated because they may look at deprivation of capital when you tell them your savings have gone back under the £6000.

Deprivation of capital basically means that you have got rid of some of your capital in order to increase your benefits and/or claim a benefit.

The DWP has to prove that you used the money for the above intention.

Usually someone called a Decision Maker will decide whether it is deprivation or not.

In the link I gave you there are some examples.

In your case paying for private dental treatment should be OK.  They may question why you can't have it done on the NHS.

Obviously the way forward is to have it done while your savings are well below the £6000.

If this can't be done and your savings increase over the £6000 then the simplest thing is to write in your journal the circumstances surrounding the need for private treatment and ask if this would treated as deprivation of capital before you have it done.

And yes, once you reach over £6000 keeping receipts for expenditure is a sensible thing to do.

NewburyVilla

Very helpful.

Thanks 

calcotti

Re the dental care - have you checked whether you can get the treatment on NHS. As you are on UC with no earnings you are entitled to free dental care, free prescriptions etc.
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/help-with-health-costs-for-people-getting-universal-credit/
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/who-is-entitled-to-free-nhs-dental-treatment-in-england/

Nannytone

The NHS wont pay for dental implants.
They provide the cheapest solution which would be a denture

Spoonie_Turtle

Nannytone said:

The NHS wont pay for dental implants.
They provide the cheapest solution which would be a denture

Not strictly true, but mostly.

Implants are "sometimes available on the NHS for patients who can't wear dentures or whose face and teeth have been damaged, such as people who have had mouth cancer or an accident that's knocked a tooth out."
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/dental-treatments/