A Young Man In Receipt Of Incapacity Benefit Has Got A Letter Stating That It Is Being Transferred To...

[sandyRoe]

...Contributory Employment and Support Allowance later this month. The letter states he may now qualify for an income related 'top up' and an application form was enclosed.
Does this mean that the level of benefits he was getting up to now will remain unchanged?

[sandyRoe]

It's savings. Looks as though the CAB should be our first port of call.

[emmie]

absolutely, if he lives at home it could affect what the mum gets if claiming housing, council tax, make an appointment soonest and they will get you a benefits advisor, the finer and harder points of our benefit system is a minefield

[emmie]

what they could do is reduce his benefits, that is if he has been in receipt of benefits for a time. and had that much in the bank for a while, it is considered savings, and 6 grand i think is the limit, and any more you have to tell them

[emmie]

one thing is to gather as much of the paperwork you can, his bank accounts, and letters from DWP, plus the current one. Better armed the quicker you should be able to sort it.

[sandyRoe]

He was a right piece of dirt before his accident and if it was up to me I'd ignore him completely. But his mother worries about him and for her sake I try to help.

[Dee Sa]

he should try and get the money down to the acceptable DHS level, give it to his mum, prepay his funeral, take mum on holiday a cruise ?buy a car adapted for his needs etc.it can be done.

[emmie]

i would have suggested that but you will have to show all documents relating to savings, that means bank accounts, and so on, if he, or his mum takes out a substantial amount and it would have to be most if 6k is the limit, that means showing where the money went. I have some experience of this, and it's not a nice thing at all. Spanish inquisition comes to mind.

[pixie373]

Don't they already know about his savings, though?

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

His savings will be a big issue, but then again, if he has £25k savings, why does he need benefits?
This is why they are being cut for everybody. It's skewed when someone with twice my yearly wage in the bank can claim benefits at all. He is not in financial need....yet.

[emmie]

don't think so going on what sandy was saying, many people either don't know, or ignore the ruling i would think on what constitutes savings and how much is allowed.

[emmie]

if he is now unable to function because of a serious accident that money will be needed.

[emmie]

sandy says he had a head injury, so could be unable to do anything for himself...

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

That's beside the point Emmie. He has cash and until that cash is spent he is not in need of state help.
We all want to keep our stuff but we can't cry poverty if we do.

[emmie]

he is allowed 6k i believe, the rest could be spent on doing up his mums place, as dee says buying an adapted car, anything. He does need benefits if he is unable to work, 25k if seriously injured won't last long.

[wolf63]

If he has savings and they were 'disappeared' the DWP can still take them into account - deprivation of capital it used to be called.

I would love to help you sandy, but it is pretty confusing these days. I have no idea what is going on - and I spent 24 years working in the benefit system.

Get his social worker to sort it out.

[emmie]

i still think the CAB are a good bet too. try both avenues, it cant harm
and yes if the money shows on bank statement its evidence...