Deprivation of assets- gifts

raddy59

Mother is elderly and disabled, and has a bit of money (not a lot). Last year when she started getting help off the council she was assessed  as spending money as "deprivation of assets" (she wasn't, she didn't know anything about financial assessment until she was applying for financial assistance for transport). Things are back on an even keel now, as her money has fallen below the threshold with spending - she was borderline in any case). She was wondering though, with Christmas coming up,  how much money she can legitimately gift relatives  without getting a new deprivation assessment?  

Keep_pedalling

Difficult to say without knowing more but it sounds as she has little to spare so should not be running down her savings as it is always wise to maintain an emergency fund. I would suggests she give away no more than 10% of her savings.

elsien

It’s a balance between what she was giving his gifts in the past and what she can afford now. 

So as an example, if she was giving everyone £50 in previous years, then upped  the amount when she started getting care it’s hard to argue that she’s not doing it to avoid care costs. 

There’s also a difference between gifting several hundred pounds to adult relatives who don’t need the money and buying presents for children. No/one can give you a definite figure because it really is based on individual circumstances and people’s past behaviour.

And as above she really needs to make sure she’s got enough money for her own needs – depending on her circumstances if she needs a new boiler or roof if she’s a homeowner, that sort of thing.