Me and Various Benefits

[watchinginvestigation2011]

No one has said you are a scrounger, only you have stated what you feel posters judge and they dont. it is an open forum so you will get a varied viewpoints but they all appear helpful to me !!!!!!!!!!

 

Everyone has posted helpful comments trying to pre warn you.

 

Ring up housing benefit with your list of what you plan to do with it and to where and as said get from the horses mouth.

[confusedbunny]

Why should you not do what you want?

 

You plan to take tax payers money to pay your housing and have to follow the rules like all of us.

 

Do what you want it is your money, but be prepared you may come unstuck hence the helpful warnings.

 

tax payers money? what, the money i have contributed to all aswell all my life? its not a crime to be unwell for the last year and is there if you genuinely need it! what i am trying to get to is........

 

my intention is to live off my money,work full time and pay my way as i always have! why do i need to "limit" my spending, like decide to get a cheaper car or holiday etc just incase i need to claim HB in the future? why would i make such decisions now if i never do end up claiming HB? Do you see my point?

[watchinginvestigation2011]

tax payers money? what, the money i have contributed to all aswell all my life? its not a crime to be unwell for the last year and is there if you genuinely need it! what i am trying to get to is........

 

my intention is to live off my money,work full time and pay my way as i always have! why do i need to "limit" my spending, like decide to get a cheaper car or holiday etc just incase i need to claim HB in the future? why would i make such decisions now if i never do end up claiming HB? Do you see my point?

 

You want an argument bunny and there is no need for it. Ring up housing and tell them what you will receive, record the call to protect yourself and tell them your plans.

No one is judging you

We all come across the various rules in housing or dwp and some have learnt how careful you have to be, hence I say record the call, it protected me in the past form an error which was not my fault. Hence a great reference if errors in advise are given, which lead you to do something on that advice.

[confusedbunny]

Surely if demoralised of benefits, a 1/750 holiday would not be high on the spend list, that amount would keep you off beneifits nigh on another month?

 

Unfortunately when claiming benefits now or in the future they have to right to full disclosure and will go through it with fine tooth comb.

 

I can understand your point but again others, you are expecting to claim housing benefit in the future hence such large amounts would be deprivation of capital.

 

6,000 for paying off debt, on benefits you can pay 1.00 a month to non priority debts.

 

Its up to you what you do at the end of the day, but do you want to risk getting told you will be treat as havng the capital despite spent it?

 

If not give them a ring, tell them exactly what you plan to do with the money amounts etc.....that you plan then to reclaim housing and see what your response is from the horses mouth, record the call for reference that you did check prior to doing it, but think you will find they have trouble with some of your list, but hey you never know you might get a response you prefer as not happy with help offered here.

 

My intentions are not to claim HB, if it was i would have the attitude that i would keep the £6k and think to myself "dont pay that coz when i claim i will just pay £1 per month!"...NO! Thats not me, i created the debt, so i will pay it off like other people have to.........

[watchinginvestigation2011]

I think a few caggers might be giving up by now:!:

 

Pay spend what you want bunny, but dont quote me as I am not housing or dwp!!!!!!!

[confusedbunny]

You want an argument bunny and there is no need for it. Ring up housing and tell them what you will receive, record the call to protect yourself and tell them your plans.

No one is judging you

We all come across the various rules in housing or dwp and some have learnt how careful you have to be, hence I say record the call, it protected me in the past form an error which was not my fault. Hence a great reference if errors in advise are given, which lead you to do something on that advice.

 

no, i dont want an arguement i am just frustrated at some people suggesting i may deprive the capital just to get benefits! I just wanted to know the rules/bounderies/guidance to such an event, thats all.......

[watchinginvestigation2011]

You confused me prior you said you planned to go into private housing and claim housing benefits when had to once more, fair enough(future claims post one).

now you say you do not intend to claim housing benefits again.

If thats the case why worry, you only have to be careful if planning to claim once again when you have to justify to big brother, like we all do

 

Peace man.

[watchinginvestigation2011]

Youve been given plenty of advice, best wishes and good luck.

[confusedbunny]

I think a few caggers might be giving up by now:!:

 

Pay spend what you want bunny, but dont quote me as I am not housing or dwp!!!!!!!

 

sorry guys! Its certainly up for debate......

[confusedbunny]

You confused me prior you said you planned to go into private housing and claim housing benefits when had to once more, fair enough.

now you say you do not intend to claim housing benefits again.

If thats the case why worry, you only have to be careful if planning to claim once again when you have to justify to big brother, like we all do

 

Peace man.

 

No, i have never claimed HB as i have always owned my home (paid mortgage)....i am going into private rental and what i am saying is IF i have to claim at a later date.....maybe i am worrying over nothing......

 

i suppose we dont have a crystal ball and say joe bloggs who works etc doesnt worry how he spends his money "just incase" he may have to claim HB...

 

I am just an anxious person i guess and worried fate will deal its crucial blow to me once again because before i become unwell and paid my mortgage and everything (and had never claimed in my life) i never worried about this and have now been burnt and realise how you can easily end up on a very different path in life....sorry guys......

[watchinginvestigation2011]

HB or SMI still has same criteria as funded by tax payer regarding declaring savings etc.....

[watchinginvestigation2011]

No, i have never claimed HB as i have always owned my home (paid mortgage)....i am going into private rental and what i am saying is IF i have to claim at a later date.....maybe i am worrying over nothing......

 

i suppose we dont have a crystal ball and say joe bloggs who works etc doesnt worry how he spends his money "just incase" he may have to claim HB...

 

I am just an anxious person i guess and worried fate will deal its crucial blow to me once again because before i become unwell and paid my mortgage and everything (and had never claimed in my life) i never worried about this and have now been burnt and realise how you can easily end up on a very different path in life....sorry guys......

 

You are right to look into it and be prepared hence the advice given to protect yourself just in case.

In fact only today I had to ring income support re an issue which freaked me out due to my illness and I needed reassurance, THEY WERE LOVELY, GREAT AND HELPFUL, dwp and housing are not ogres ready to tear your head off I have learnt hence ring them when need more reassurance. I know mine was income support today, but hey one call and the stress was all gone. For know anyway as I am a stress magnet these last few months especially xx

Edited October 6, 2011 by watchinginvestigation2011

[confusedbunny]

You confused me prior you said you planned to go into private housing and claim housing benefits when had to once more, fair enough(future claims post one).

now you say you do not intend to claim housing benefits again.

If thats the case why worry, you only have to be careful if planning to claim once again when you have to justify to big brother, like we all do

 

Peace man.

 

just re-read post one, no i meant "for any HB claim in the future"...not that i have made claims in the past....apologies for the wording....

[confusedbunny]

error error

[DaveatBristol]

Hi Confused

 

Well I hold a different view to some of the other posters on this thread

 

The OP is due to receive £20,000 so he will be unable to claim housing benefit as he has capital above £16,000

 

The thresholds - £6000 Lower to £16,000 higher with an assumed income of £1 for every £250 is explained by way of an assumed income based on capital generating interest ( so the deduction of max £40 on capital of £16,000 - even though with interest rates now you would struggle to acheive 5% -£16 )

 

Its NOT because you are greedy or have too much money to be claiming means tested benefits.

 

Now reading closely what the OP intends to spend his £20,000 on I would like to comment on the living expenses and private rent that he intends to pay - £1400 a month sounds a lot ! - over £300 a week and this is where the OP would have a serious problem.

 

Forget the holiday & Car and paying down his debts for a moment

 

The way forward would be to rent a cheaper property say - £100 a week and with living expenses of say another £100 a week - £200 a week divided into £4000 = 20 weeks say 5 months.

 

So my advice would be 5 months after receiving £20,000 accept the notional capital figure of £16,000 and you would have a max of £40 deducted from your private rent - and would be quite entitled to claim Housing Benefit without anyone on this forum criticising you for your actions.

 

Keep all receipts possible and point to David Cameron's quote about paying down debts whilst at the same time within reason accepting the notional capital figure - bearing in mind that you could argue it out at a tribunal - I personally don't think that £3000 for a car is lavish spending - far from it.

 

Bear in mind that you cannot be accused of depravation of capital in order to claim housing benefit if you list the expenditure with them and can clearly show after 5 months that you qualify by way of having less than £16,000 capital even if the notional capital rules applies. So you would not in any way be claiming means tested benefits dishonestly.

[confusedbunny]

thanks for that info. but if i am not on benefits when i recieve the lump sum, why would i need to justify my spending? if i am not even certain whether i wil need to claim HB in the future. if they ask for 2 months bank statements if i do claim down the line when i wil maybe have £1000 left then how wil they know how i spent the rest? and why would i be liable to capital deprivation scrutiny as they wil only know last 2 months spending?

 

also, it sounds absurd that i should pay peanuts rent or dictate where i live just 'incase' i have to claim HB in the future, ludicrous!

 

my rent wil be what the local market rate is according to where i choose to live and pay out my OWN money, the rent. if im not claiming at all, where r all these 'spending rules' coming from?

 

im sure a local banker does not think "oh, we better only get an old car, cheap holiday and re-locate just INCASE we end up having to recieve help!".......

[DaveatBristol]

I agree with you that you shouldn't be dictated to as to how you spend your money .. thats your choice

 

I would however like to point out a couple of things

 

£20,000 in capital is only £4000 over the threshold so if you are not working it wouldn't take long to fall below the upper threshold. If after a period of a few months you find yourself renting a 3 bed house at £300 a week - they HB might award a reduced amount re: over occupancy - same happened to me a few years ago and I was a single parent with a disabled child in a 3 bed and had to make up the shortfall. If you also have notional capital knocked off at £40 a week on top and are unable to downsize as you've signed a tenancy agreement keeping you there you might regret it.

 

The other more important thing to bear in mind is this - On the latest forms Re: Income Support ( may well be the same for HB ) they ask whether you have had capital over £5,500 in the last SIX MONTHS - They might only ask for 2-3 Bank Statements - but they are able to come back at a later date and talk about overpayments if they are able to establish a figure above £6,000 in the previous 6 months.

[confusedbunny]

I agree with you that you shouldn't be dictated to as to how you spend your money .. thats your choice

 

I would however like to point out a couple of things

 

£20,000 in capital is only £4000 over the threshold so if you are not working it wouldn't take long to fall below the upper threshold. If after a period of a few months you find yourself renting a 3 bed house at £300 a week - they HB might award a reduced amount re: over occupancy - same happened to me a few years ago and I was a single parent with a disabled child in a 3 bed and had to make up the shortfall. If you also have notional capital knocked off at £40 a week on top and are unable to downsize as you've signed a tenancy agreement keeping you there you might regret it.

 

The other more important thing to bear in mind is this - On the latest forms Re: Income Support ( may well be the same for HB ) they ask whether you have had capital over £5,500 in the last SIX MONTHS - They might only ask for 2-3 Bank Statements - but they are able to come back at a later date and talk about overpayments if they are able to establish a figure above £6,000 in the previous 6 months.

 

I see, i wont have over-occupancy, £300 pw for a one bed is market rate....I think someone mentioned in this thread that they worked for HB and its only 2-3 months bank statements......Dont get me wrong, I am not trying to decieve or do anything under handed (not saying your suggesting that may i add!), i am just trying to get clarification on a scenario and why you would possibly be scrutinised on your financial spending when you were not claiming any benefits....as a tax payer myself before ne year ago, i do not "take, take"..i wouldnt even apply for part payment when i get to £16k or under, i will be working with blood,sweat and tears like any other individual till my last penny if need be.....

 

Its the notional capital that confuses me, does this only apply if you recieve a lump sum on or just below the threshold of £16k whilst still claiming and you spend wildly just so "your benefits increase"?......I am just finding it absurd as to where the "rule" implies "spending too much" comes in and when if you are not claiming........

[confusedbunny]

If you are not in the benefits system, then its does not matter what you spend your money on, they only request 2 months bank statements when u submit a claim,

they only want to know monies you get my in the future not in past as when you recieved the funds you were not on HB ben.

 

This is my point exactly.......i am just trying to clarify if the latter part of your post is indeed correct....

Edited October 9, 2011 by confusedbunny

[DaveatBristol]

In order to apply the notional capital rule HB would have to have to show that on the balance of probablities you have a certain amount of money. From what I know it is up to the claimant to show otherwise that's why proof of payments of rent at £300 a week are important as together with your living expenses - you would soon be able to show that you qualify for housing benefit. If the forms do not ask for capital amounts going back six months and just the last 2-3 bank statements are needed then my guess is that HB would not be discussing notional capital with you.

 

It is far more likely that someone receiving say £150,000 through inheritance and was on benefits prior - then blows most of the money in say a year and trys to reclaim - they would be stuck for years with notional capital slowly coming down.

 

If your not claiming benefits right now and receive £20,000 - which after all is not a great deal of money - it wouldn't raise many eyebrows to be spending £3000 on a car and paying down your debts - seems quite sensible spending to me !

[confusedbunny]

In order to apply the notional capital rule HB would have to have to show that on the balance of probablities you have a certain amount of money. From what I know it is up to the claimant to show otherwise that's why proof of payments of rent at £300 a week are important as together with your living expenses - you would soon be able to show that you qualify for housing benefit. If the forms do not ask for capital amounts going back six months and just the last 2-3 bank statements are needed then my guess is that HB would not be discussing notional capital with you.

 

It is far more likely that someone receiving say £150,000 through inheritance and was on benefits prior - then blows most of the money in say a year and trys to reclaim - they would be stuck for years with notional capital slowly coming down.

 

If your not claiming benefits right now and receive £20,000 - which after all is not a great deal of money - it wouldn't raise many eyebrows to be spending £3000 on a car and paying down your debts - seems quite sensible spending to me !

 

yes, as i say i can show where some went but not all.......i guess alot of it is down to "my intentions", if i can prove i am working (self employed), paying my rent, paying debts (paper trail or not, which is my choice, as i am not claiming) then i can only show the decline and dispute any points raised at the time should i end up in the position to need to claim IS and HB because if it wasnt my intention......

 

i would pay what i can to make my monthly outgoings less out of any money i earn (wage), who is to prove i done it for sinnical reasons? ......its not a crime to reduce your outgoings and to pay whatever debts you may have.....by reducing the monthly outgoings, surely you run less risk of having to claim as more money can be saved towards my rent and general living expenses. right?

[speedfreek]

who is to prove i done it for sinnical reasons? ......its not a crime to reduce your outgoings and to pay whatever debts you may have.....by reducing the monthly outgoings, surely you run less risk of having to claim as more money can be saved towards my rent and general living expenses. right?

 

Posters have really tried to help you with this but unfortunately the message is still not getting through is it?

 

These rules are laid down by the Government!

 

Posters have not "accused" you of anything at all! They have tried to explain to you how these rules may be applied to the situation you are in.

 

As for £300 a week for a one bed flat. No chance whatsoever that is going to be paid.

 

You need to read this http://www.dwp.gov.uk/local-authority-staff/housing-benefit/claims-processing/local-housing-allowance/impact-of-changes.shtml then go to you local Councils website to see what they will pay.

 

p.s. they are not my rules saying you will not get £300 but the Governments. I have as much say as a giraffes lost flip-flop in a box of cornflakes in them.

[watchinginvestigation2011]

Suspecting this thread is a troll thread now.

 

Not a hard issue with the advise given to understand is it.

[flowerchild]

 

As for £300 a week for a one bed flat. No chance whatsoever that is going to be paid. .

 

 

[ £300 pw for a one bed is market rate....I think someone mentioned in this thread that they worked for HB and its only 2-3 months bank statements......

 

You must be in London as nowhere else would £300/wk be Market rate for 1 bed! In other parts of the UK that would get you a huge mansion! Be aware that regardless of whether you are awarded full HB or no it will be capped at the LHA ( Local Housing Allowance) for your area. If you are single or a couple you are entitled to the rate for 1 bedroom in that area. You can check online how much it is but Central London is the only area where it could be as high as £300/wk! The rate for NW London (Hampstead, Golders Green etc. ) is just £250/wk or £175 for Hendof, Finchley etch (I have friends in those areas).

This is the max you could get even if awarded full HB (

[confusedbunny]

Suspecting this thread is a troll thread now.

 

Not a hard issue with the advise given to understand is it.

wrong! some people just take a little longer to understand i process more than others, thanks for your input all the same.