Proof of Income

Sugarfree_Babe

A friend has asked me to put a question here. She has to undergo a financial assessment for her care charges. She has been asked to send proof of income including benefits letters and bank statements etc.

She has already been a victim of identity theft last year and is very worried about this. She has been told by someone that as she is on income support and DLA and has no other income, all she needs to send is her proof of benefits and does not need to send her bank statements. Local Authority says she DOES need to send them.

Does anyone know the answer to this and is it written down anywhere so she has something to quote?

Oldernotwiser

Seeing that the LA are the people who need this information it seems likely that it's THEY and not "someone" who's correct. Providing bank statements will prove that she doesn't have any other income in addition to her benefits so would seem to be a good idea. Perhaps she can blank out her account number if she's worried about it?

alison99_2

Does her LA have offices nearby where she could take her details in herself so they can photocopy them and she can have them straight back?

Failing that, she will have to send in all the information they request, including her Bank statements

kellywelly_2

Can't she send them special delivery. I know its a bit pricey but you should be guaranteed your documents safety and will have signature copies from the PO as to who signed for them and when should you have any problems

seven-day-weekend

I don't see how she can undergo a financial assessment without them seeing proof of her finances!

If she doesn't want to send them through the post maybe she could take them in person.

TOBRUK

I sent mine through the post by recorded delivery and there were no problems at all, and they were all returned. Although they know she is receiving benefits they need to check everything to make sure she isn't receiving any other income. She needs to disclose all bank accounts, any savings accounts etc.

If she doesn't want to send them by post, tell her to phone them and ask if she can deliver them to the appropriate office.

Sugarfree_Babe

Thank you all for your quick responses. You may recall that in the last couple of years there have been some well publicised incidents of public bodies losing personal info including banking information. A few years ago there was a big case where benefits agency staff were using peoples banking info fraudulently.

This prompted her hast year to ring her bank's legal helpline. They told her that as she was on income support she automatically fulfilled the income crtieria and should not be asked for statements.

However, this was telephone advice and she has nothing in writing. She is worried that if she goes against this advice she may be liable for any losses.

The idea of blanking out the account number seems a good one. I wonder if she should ring the legal helpline again and ask them to send something in writing if she gets the same answer.