Reapplying for housing benefit

playlister82

My mum is a state pensioner who earlier this year had her housing benefit stopped because her savings went over £16k (she has no other income). Her savings have since gone under £16k again, our question is can she now reapply and be eligible for the benefit again, or is there a sanction period that she has to wait?

I think she can just reapply now, but she is worried that there might be some rule about having to wait a period of time.

Rubyroobs

Yes she can re-apply but obviously would need to keep updating them is savings build up again. 

HillStreetBlues

They might ask for bank statements to check possible deprivation of capital.

playlister82

Rubyroobs said:

Yes she can re-apply but obviously would need to keep updating them is savings build up again. 

Thanks and can you confirm there are no sanctions other than having to reapply again once her savings are under the threshold?

playlister82

HillStreetBlues said:

They might ask for bank statements to check possible deprivation of capital.

She has been using her savings to pay her rent, does that count as deprivation of capital?

itsthelittlethings

playlister82 said:

HillStreetBlues said:

They might ask for bank statements to check possible deprivation of capital.

She has been using her savings to pay her rent, does that count as deprivation of capital?

I wouldn’t think so.

HillStreetBlues

playlister82 said:

HillStreetBlues said:

They might ask for bank statements to check possible deprivation of capital.

She has been using her savings to pay her rent, does that count as deprivation of capital?

No, normal expenditure will be fine, they just might want to check nothing extravagant  has been bought

SnowWhiterThanWhite

Have you checked whether she's entitled to pension credit? If she is, she would get her rent & council tax paid for her (regardless of capital)

Murphybear

HillStreetBlues said:

playlister82 said:

HillStreetBlues said:

They might ask for bank statements to check possible deprivation of capital.

She has been using her savings to pay her rent, does that count as deprivation of capital?

No, normal expenditure will be fine, they just might want to check nothing extravagant  has been bought

One council’s “extravagant” is another council’s “that’s OK”.  My OH cashed in a big chunk of a works pension.  He bought some Miele appliances: full height fridge, full height freezer, under the counter freezer and a dishwasher.  He also replaced the car and bought an old Lexus.

all the appliances he replaced were very old Miele and the car he replaced was a very old Lexus.  The council told him what he bought was perfectly acceptable.  In terms of brands you are allowed to replace like for like. This was 10 years ago and the appliances still look and work like new.   We expect they will see us out.  

HillStreetBlues

Murphybear said:

HillStreetBlues said:

playlister82 said:

HillStreetBlues said:

They might ask for bank statements to check possible deprivation of capital.

She has been using her savings to pay her rent, does that count as deprivation of capital?

No, normal expenditure will be fine, they just might want to check nothing extravagant  has been bought

One council’s “extravagant” is another council’s “that’s OK”.  My OH cashed in a big chunk of a works pension.  He bought some Miele appliances: full height fridge, full height freezer, under the counter freezer and a dishwasher.  He also replaced the car and bought an old Lexus.

all the appliances he replaced were very old Miele and the car he replaced was a very old Lexus.  The council told him what he bought was perfectly acceptable.  In terms of brands you are allowed to replace like for like. This was 10 years ago and the appliances still look and work like new.   We expect they will see us out.  

I don't disagree that councils and ever some decision makers at the same council can come up with different opinions, but if a person is unhappy then can go to a tribunal where judges tent to be much more consistent. 

itsthelittlethings

SnowWhiterThanWhite said:

Have you checked whether she's entitled to pension credit? If she is, she would get her rent & council tax paid for her (regardless of capital)

I thought you couldn’t get pension credit if you had large amounts of capital?