The Policemans cucumber (notional money) When being interviewed by a council official about a possible wrong claim for council tax benefit, I was being told very firmly about declaring every last thing that might be construed as income. So, I asked, tongue in cheek, does the fact that the village policeman gave me a cucumber last week and that I have not declared it, count as an offence? Yes, I was told, good are classed as notional money and a notional value must be ascribed to them to check if that add up to an amount of such significance that it would affect your claim for benefit. I have now devised a form which lists anything that might have a notional value and I am lisiting these once a week and sending this form to the council for them to give these items a notional value which is acceptable to them, and then retuurn the form to me. I can then be sure I am not overclaiming benefit. I have as yet to get one of these forms back - maybe they dont know how much a Policemans cucumber is worth? |