childs bank account privacy

[aimee-jaz]

Hi, i have to pay back an overpayment of housing benefit and as it is a high amount i can only afford to pay in installments, do officials have the right to check out whether my kids have any savings and if so can they demand i use the savings of my child. thanks.

[vivaciauk]

I dont think they can find out your child has an account without you telling them..unless you put it on the form when you applied i cant see how they could know as banks are not allowed to disclose any info about you without some kind of legal intervention..

[aimee-jaz]

hi, thanks for that, [they did snoop through my bank account though without my consent], im just really resentful that i have to repay the overpayment as i informed them of a change but because they cant find my letter im automatically guilty of not informing them, i kept a photocopy but they wont budge and im worried in case they demand me to repay it from my sons savings.

[erimus1]

Don't worry at all, they can't touch your son's money. It is not yours for them to touch - you are only the trustee for his account and therefore you must act in his interest.

[aimee-jaz]

hi, thanks so much.