I am so pi$$ed off because ..............

[Jillius]

a few years ago my mate won £895,000 on the lottery but she can still claim Family Tax Credit because she doesn't work. She has 3 kids at college and they all get the full EMA payments of £30 a week. How can this be right when we have an annual income of £26,000 and hardly qualify for anything ? He kids all have brand new cars and they have a villa in Florida where they go twice a year. I just think it's wrong.

[scotman]

Maybe she hasn't told the relevant Govt departments that she has this money. They are not psychic you know.

[notasyoungasiwas]

I agree with you Jillius. I thought if you had that much money you weren't entitled to all those benefits - obviously I was wrong. I also thought the Govermnent were stopping those EMA payments, maybe it's next year? I have worked all my life too and I see people on benefits in a much better situation than me financially, never understood this.

[Jillius]

She has ! They say she is entitled to it cos she doeasn't have an income coming in !

[notasyoungasiwas]

Actually I was thinking that also scotman.

[Jillius]

thanks for agreeing with me notasyoungasiwas. The people that work are no better off for it :-(

[redcrx]

did she spend it all? or has she got savings?

[karenmac60]

Surely the interest on it counts as income...

[notasyoungasiwas]

It's just mad isn't it ?

[Jillius]

No, she's got hundreds of thousands left

[MarkRae]

Sounds like she has hasn't told the authorities the full details i.e. that she has no income coming in but has massive reserves of savings.

[sherrardk]

Maybe she's lying?

[TonyV]

I think Family Tax Credit is means and savings tested. Has she fully disclosed her circumstances and income from any investments she has?

[Postdog]

Presumably she was claiming before she won or never declared it and hid the money somehow. There is a limit to what you can have in savings, and this is way above that. Shop them - the benefits fraud hotline should still exist.

BTW EMA was closed to new applicants in England from January, but if you were already on, or outside england, it continues.

[Jillius]

I feel a sneak reporting her but she flaunts everything and it's not right. I think I might have to. Thanks all.

[ayabrea38]

I agree with the interest would be income comments,maybe that is under their threshold and she never told them how much she won.Bit stupid to flaunt it,specially in these times.

[cazzz1975]

she should inform them of her "savings" I think you are only allowed a certain amount, I have known people with a lot less savings who have been refused any types of benefits.

I also know a guy who inherited his moms house when she died and he could not claim benefits because he owned a property outright

[mumsie_wumsie]

Does she rent her villa out when she is not using it?That would possibly count as income.

[askyourgran]

I think I would feel the same jillius, she obviously hasn't informed them of her change of circumstances. It should be reported, but some people have a knack of knowing how to stash their assets and get away with things like this.