Do You Think What The Council Has Done To This Lady Is Fair?

[ladybirder]

I know it's within the rules but is it fair?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7251829/Widow-86-punished-saving-pension.html

[fiction-factory]

Of course it's fair- she wasn't entitled to housing benefit. I have some reservations about means testing but if the rules are in place and others are expected to follow them, so should she.

[Rockrose]

Yes it’s fair.

[Rockrose]

Sorry was a bit premature!! 28 grand she had in savings but continued to claim.

[ummmm]

That's 28k on top of her 16k allowance?

[Mamyalynne]

Sad but fair, they have a duty to every other resident in the Borough - why oh why don't families discuss finances and pool advice?

I can't see a great deal of point in taking her to court now.

[wolf63]

She seems to have amassed quite a large sum from her pension, I am suspicious that there is more to the story.

She should have to pay it back.

[david small]

Whoever said life was fair? She had more than allowed for benefit entitlement. Them’s the rules.

[Rockrose]

No ummmm 28k in total

[ummmm]

I mean after they take the 28k she'll still have 16k in the bank?

[Rockrose]

Oh I see what you mean, I don’t know.

[ladybirder]

I don't think so Ummmm, it's not very clear.
She has to pay it back Wolf.
Silly woman, instead of saving her money, she should have bought herself a massive TV, the latest phone, smoked and drank and gone on holiday then she wouldn't be in trouble. She has been retired 30 years so that's a long time to save £16k.

[Mamyalynne]

The article says elderly and with learning difficulties - she needed help.

[sherrardk]

She’d saved £32000 - if a non-elderly person claiming benefits was in the same position you can bet that there would be some people saying that benefits are too generous.

[fiction-factory]

>Silly woman, instead of saving her money, she should have bought herself a massive TV, the latest phone, smoked and drank and gone on holiday then she wouldn't be in trouble.

But she was saving money she wasn't entitled to. Why should many other pensioners and taxpayers pay her housing benefit

[ladybirder]

FF it seems to me she was entitled to her benefits when she first claimed but has since saved too much instead of spending it. Should have paid for her funeral with some of it as she wanted to save her family the expense when she died.

[Ryzen]

....and you can bet she's had a freeeee TV licence for 11 years..no wonder this country's on its knees.

[pixie374]

It does seem that some people are receiving too much in benefits, if this is even possible. It isn't just this lady that should pay it back, but anyone in a similar position.

[ladybirder]

Of course she will have had her free TV Licence Ryzen, she was entitled to it.
Pixie, I know, it just seems harsh for someone who left school illiterate, and has learning difficulties. As someone has previously mentioned, aren't savings checked every year for people on benefits?

[pixie374]

I would hope that it is asked, at least yearly. But I suspect it depends on honesty, too x

[Togo]

Her savings will come in very handy, allowing the council to fund the illegal immigrants it is currently giving board and lodge to.