Universal Credit Savings and deprivation of capital

Muttleythefrog

kingston1506 said:

I have recently moved into a new property which I had to furnish top to bottom new carpets bed white goods sofa chairs etc I still need to buy a cooker but worried to spend in case they class as deprivation.

no issues likely there.... keep receipts in one form or another as you probably would anyway

RAS

Furnishing your home is not deprivation of assets. 

Unless you decide on a very top of the range American fridge freezer or AGA for which a small mortgage might be appropriate.

Likewise, a poster here was not sanctioned for going on a decent organised trip to the States, but they didn't like her paying for her friend to go, for companionship. Had she needed a carer, that would have been OK.

HillStreetBlues

RAS said:

Furnishing your home is not deprivation of assets. 

Unless you decide on a very top of the range American fridge freezer or AGA for which a small mortgage might be appropriate.

Likewise, a poster here was not sanctioned for going on a decent organised trip to the States, but they didn't like her paying for her friend to go, for companionship. Had she needed a carer, that would have been OK.

The reason matters.
One importing ruling about DoC is  R(SB)40/85)
Funny enough the judge mentions a carpet.
It gives an example of buying a carpet, a carpet is a personal possession so disregarded, but if carpet is bought and a reason for purchase is to increase a benefit then it's DoC. 

kingston1506

I moved into a council property that had no carpets at all so was a necessary expenditure. I have declared savings of £7k so worried about DoC 

kingston1506

I have a mental health condition and my support worker said one of her patients spent 3k on a treadmill and £6k on a kitchen! 

RAS

But apparently don't yet have a cooker? Buying that is not deprivation of assets, it's there to enable you to cook. 

Grumpy_chap

kingston1506 said:

am worried about spending money my benefits total 1339 through pip and uc after paying rent so I have a lot of disposable income which will just increase my savings every month 

Spend what you wish to spend each month (still work to a budget) from that £1,339.  Allow yourself to enjoy yourself (if that makes sense) within that available amount.
If you have spare left over that will become / increase savings, have you given consideration to your long term future /retirement age income?  There are some rules in place that restrict total contributions, but pension contributions are permissible as spend (not deprivation of capital) and do not get classified as savings.  You have not mentioned whether you have any earned income, as this will limit the maximum pension contribution that can be made.

kingston1506

No earned income I am on limited capability to work due to illness 

itsthelittlethings

They definitely won’t class you furnishing your home as deprivation of capital!

Spoonie_Turtle

itsthelittlethings said:

They definitely won’t class you furnishing your home as deprivation of capital!

Just to be clear, they could if someone for instance bought designer or bespoke items that cost a lot more than furnishings need to cost.  But buying ordinary items certainly wouldn't, for a house that needs furnishing.