Benefits For Oap.

[Tizzi24]

My mother is 92 and as she is nearly blind, she has been claiming financial help for the past year. Apparently, she is allowed to have up to £10,000 in savings, but after that she'll lose her benefits. She's told me she is reasonably near the limit now and she's very worried that the benefits people will find out and stop her money. She has a current account and an ISA with the same bank.

She has never claimed help in her life before this. Is there any way that she can keep her benefits and her savings? Is there any way the authorities could find out?

I know nothing about the benefit system so any help would be appreciated.

[murraymints]

If her savings go over ..they will know because of ni and taxation...it's all linked...unless she withdraws and keeps cash it will come to light in an account !

[rockyracoon]

At her age I'd spend some and enjoy it, that'll keep her under the limit.

[Yorky Lass]

Anything over £10,000 will count as income. Don't panic it's £1 for every £500. So she will still get some benefit unless she has thousands above.
Yes Tax office will know. They will send reports to DWP of tax paid on savings when no savings have been declared on the benefits claim form.

[Yorky Lass]

You can try this calculator https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit

[themas]

Not all benefits for pensioners are means tested in this way. Can you say exactly which benefits she is getting?

[factor-fiction]

I would suggest that if things are tight she should spend a bit of her own money from her savings. That way she'll continue to get maximum help from DWP and benefit from her savings.

[Tizzi24]

themas- the only thing I know for sure she is getting is Pension Credit and perhaps an extra allowance to do with her sight. Sorry to be so vague.

Thank you all for your answers. I can't imagine that there is anything she would want to buy as at 92, you've more or less got it all! I am seeing her at Xmas, so will try and sort it all out then.

[themas]

The help with her sight is probably Attendance Allowance, which is not means tested & not affected by any other benefits.

If she is getting the guarantee credit element of pension credit (which is almost certainly the case) then once her savings go over £10,000 they add £1 per week to her income for each £500 or part of £500 of savings above the £10K limit. So if she has £10,100 £1 p wk is added to income & that reduces the amount of the pension credit. The credit does not stop - just goes down.

Of course, there's nothing to stop her giving some slightly generous Christmas presents so long as she doesn't go right over the top (too much & she might be thought to have deliberately deprived herself of capital).