Universal credit and inherited home

CatWalker

My brother is 63 and sadly has been diagnosed with terminal cancer with a life expectancy of 12 months. He owns his own home and shares it with his daughter and 18 month old young grandson. He intends to leave the property to his daughter in his will. His daughter is on basic Universal credit. Once inherited she will wish to sell and buy a new property closer to extended family about 30 miles away. Advice please....How will the inheritance affect her benefits? How will DWP assess selling / buying new property? Thanks.

Muttleythefrog

Sorry to hear this... but in the circumstances forward planning like this sounds wise.

Assuming the daughter doesn't own any other property.. and I assume that's the case as she would probably be living in it or be not eligible for U/C...

When she inherits the property advise continue living in it.... A property you own and live in is not considered capital for calculating benefits.

If she wants to sell and buy some other property to live in that can be done...

Process is that she would try to sell and buy at same time and then it would be essentially just a change of address (unless for example she were to buy a flat and so housing costs like maintenance fees could be claimed).

If she though was to sell the property and receive the proceeds before buying another property (and presumably move into temporary accommodation) then U/C could disregard the sale proceeds (not include them in a calculation of capital held for assessing entitlement) for up to 6 months or possibly longer if required while purchase of another property to live in is dealt with. She would have to ask them to disregard the proceeds and they may ask for evidence of the monies and intention to use them to buy (although they never did in my fairly recent case).

Obviously if there is other inheritances like money then that could affect entitlement to means tested benefits like U/C. 

CatWalker

Thanks Muttley. Would there be any benefit to transferring ownership now rather than via inheritance?

Muttleythefrog

CatWalker said:

Thanks Muttley. Would there be any benefit to transferring ownership now rather than via inheritance?

No worries... 

On this question I will leave that to others as it could involve consideration of things like potential care costs.. or even tragically consideration of the process being interrupted... and things I have not thought about

tacpot12

Is he aware of the special rules for claiming benefits? You might have a look here to see if he might benefit from these arrangements: The ‘Special Rules’: how the benefit system supports people nearing the end of life - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

CatWalker

Thanks Tapcot12. Could be useful in 6 months time or so. My brother is employed and his employer has put him on long term sick leave, 6 months full pay followed by 6 months half-pay....not sure what happens after that (if he's still with us).

kaMelo

Without wanting to sound stupid but is he actually sick enough to need to be off work? He doesn't have to be off work if he doesn't want to and can still do the job, many people carry on working despite a terminal diagnosis.

CatWalker

kaMelo said:

Without wanting to sound stupid but is he actually sick enough to need to be off work? He doesn't have to be off work if he doesn't want to and can still do the job, many people carry on working despite a terminal diagnosis.

Not a helpful comment at all. He's been working 'till last week. He's starting chemo soon and the side effects sound abhorrent.

Bigwheels1111

CatWalker said:

kaMelo said:

Without wanting to sound stupid but is he actually sick enough to need to be off work? He doesn't have to be off work if he doesn't want to and can still do the job, many people carry on working despite a terminal diagnosis.

Not a helpful comment at all. He's been working 'till last week. He's starting chemo soon and the side effects sound abhorrent.

The first 4 treatments are rough as FXXK.
Not 100% sure it’s the same for everyone.
Lungs caught early.
We go every 3 weeks, first 4 treatments use 3 drugs every 3 weeks, then 2 drugs every 3 weeks for 35 cycles in total.
Things I’ve learned, get packs of hard sweet, humbugs, pear drops etc as he may suffer from a metallic tase in his mouth. Eat anything he wants.
Get hospital sick bowls every time you see them or ask for them.
Keep one in every room and the car.
Take the anti sickness pills, we get 3 types, sorry I can’t name them as breaks the rules.
Only one works for us.
Keeping some food of any kind in your stomach helps, if sick eat more & repeat.
It’s hard but helps. Little and often.
Keep sweets, chocolate, crisps etc next to the bed. Plus sick bowls wet wipes.
Ask if he takes naproxen. Causing severe abdominal issues in conjunction with chemo for us.
Another sign was low hemoglobin, blood was leaking into stomach through the ulcers.
Watch out for one or both his legs swelling, after ct scan a blood clot in the lung was found.
The swelling was a sign.
Get a wheelchair as at first walking to the car is easy, after 6 months just standing will be an issue.
We have this one, it light and strong.
Plus a fair price.

https://angelmobility.co.uk/lightweight-compact-travel-transit-wheelchair/

https://angelmobility.co.uk/vinyl-wheelchair-cushion-with-memory-foam/

I will add anything else I can think of later.

kaMelo

CatWalker said:

kaMelo said:

Without wanting to sound stupid but is he actually sick enough to need to be off work? He doesn't have to be off work if he doesn't want to and can still do the job, many people carry on working despite a terminal diagnosis.

Not a helpful comment at all. He's been working 'till last week. He's starting chemo soon and the side effects sound abhorrent.

  I've obviously misinterpreted your post about the sick pay and what to do. It was meant with good intent and I certainly didn't mean to pry or be unhelpful. Clearly I failed and for which I apologise

CatWalker

kaMelo said:

CatWalker said:

kaMelo said:

Without wanting to sound stupid but is he actually sick enough to need to be off work? He doesn't have to be off work if he doesn't want to and can still do the job, many people carry on working despite a terminal diagnosis.

Not a helpful comment at all. He's been working 'till last week. He's starting chemo soon and the side effects sound abhorrent.

  I've obviously misinterpreted your post about the sick pay and what to do. It was meant with good intent and I certainly didn't mean to pry or be unhelpful. Clearly I failed and for which I apologise

Thanks kaMelo, apology accepted