Universal Credit money from mum

Annie2347

Hello,

I posted this in the wrong place, hopefully I have this correct now. 

I would be grateful if someone could help. My mum gives me £230 a month to help towards food and electricity. I am on universal credit, new style ESA and Adult Disability Benefit.

I have read that money from my mum is a gift and as long as it’s not above £6000 a year it’s ok.

I would be grateful if you could confirm that this is the case.

kindly regards

Annie2347

Is it ok I posted my question in the benefits section? I had posted it in the wrong place before, apologies for any confusion. 

born_again

Annie2347 said:

Hello,

I posted this in the wrong place, hopefully I have this correct now. 

I would be grateful if someone could help. My mum gives me £230 a month to help towards food and electricity. I am on universal credit, new style ESA and Adult Disability Benefit.

I have read that money from my mum is a gift and as long as it’s not above £6000 a year it’s ok.

I would be grateful if you could confirm that this is the case.

kindly regards

All depends on what your monthly income & balance is for UC.

Annie2347

I am on benefits only as I am severely chronically ill. I receive universal credit LCWRA, New style ESA and Adult disability benefit. I have no savings. 

TimeLord1

Yes it's a valid question.

You are correct it's a gift, what ESA are you on Contribution ESA or income related contributions ESA 

Under current UK benefit rules, regular voluntary gifts from a family member (like your mum) are generally ignored as income when calculating your benefits.

Annie2347

Contribution based with a little income related esa that was changed to new style esa when I was migrated over to universal credit. 

Yamor

It is not income for benefit purposes, so won't affect you in that way.

However, if the money builds up in your account, and you end up with assets in excess of £6,000 (between all your assets, not just the gifts from your mum), then it would have an effect on your universal credit.

However, if you never go over £6k (and from what you say, it sounds like you spend the money immediately), then you'll be fine, even if your mum does give you more than £6k in one year.

Annie2347

Thank you for all of your advice, I really appreciate your help. 

TimeLord1

The only time the DWP gets "fussy" about regular monthly gifts is if they believe the money is actually a formal maintenance payment (e.g., from an ex-partner) or if they think you are hiding a formal source of income by calling it a gift.

​Since this is specifically from your mum to help with the rising costs of food and electricity, it is a classic voluntary gift and should not be an issue as long as your total savings stay under that £6,000 mark.

Are you currently getting everything your entitled to ?

https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

Annie2347

Thank you for your guidance and help. Yes I’m receiving all the benefits I’m entitled to just got a bit anxious about my mum helping out. 

Thank you for your help. 

p00hsticks

I posted up on your initial thread in the other part of the forum (and also asked for it to be moved here). I said there that if the money starts to become a problem you could always ask your mum to pay your electricity bills and or shopping directly so that the money doesn't go through your account.