Giving ESA / PIP money away

born_again

TBH.
Best way to spend the cash would be to use it for shopping etc.

This is a area where families need to keep a check on the elderly, who can have the mindset of keeping cash, rather than having it in a bank/Building society.
This is not meant as any disrespect to a age range. It is simply something they have grown up with, that does not fit in very well with the modern age.

So in OP's case. A simple question once in a while on what they are doing with the money or is it helping them buy what they need, would have nipped the issue before it got to this point.