How much can someone have in savings and still be eligible for Income Support?

[Sandy-Wroe]

[joggerjayne]

As much as you like, as long as it's all in cash and you don't declare it.

That's what it says on the direct.gov.uk website !

[ummmm]

£6,000 that you do not have to declare. Anything up to (I think) £16,000 but you will get a reduction in benefits.

[Sandy-Wroe]

I can't put any more under the mattress. It's too lumpy already.

[joggerjayne]

Might have to move on to shoe boxes in the attic, Sandy.

[ummmm]

I was talking to someone not so long ago. I think she said (so don't quote me) that for every £550 you have over the 6k you lose £1 in benefit.

[Sandy-Wroe]

The attics already bursting at the seams. It makes a fine layer of insulation too.
Seriously, my nephew, who was brain injured in a traffic accident, is about to move into sheltered accommodation. He will need to claim IS to cover the costs but has savings of about 20K.

[sara3]

ummmm is right, £6k will start to reduce payments and £16k is the limit for Income Support.

[Sandy-Wroe]

If he was to give his mother some of his money and bring the level of savings he has down to less than 16K before he made the claim for IS would he be treading on thin ice?

[sara3]

officially that's called "deprivation of resources" (intentionally moving capital for the purpose of claiming benefits) which isn't the way to go, but who knows if it will ever be found out.... it's a risk.

[DrFilth]

do you not think that other people have tried that.
if it is anything like when you try to claim for other things they will want to see original bank statements and building society books. they will want to know why money has left the account.
you can get good advice from your local CAB

[ummmm]

Maybe it shouldn't be worded as 'give'

[joggerjayne]

Perhaps he should repay the £4,000 he owes her.

[ummmm]

That was what I was thinking JJ

[DrFilth]

lol @ jayne they are used to people suddenly owing money to mum /dad/ uncle jim

[joggerjayne]

Give it to me then.

[DrFilth]

or giving it to jayne ..........lol

[sara3]

"I repaid a loan from my mother/brother.. etc" is the oldest line in the book.

and there will be a scratchy letter to back it up. "I lent Michael £4000 is he has now paid it back"!

[jake-the-peg]

I think this thread may be bordering on the illegal - I'm reporting it simply because it might be better all round if it vanished quickly

[Sandy-Wroe]

Or he could say that he has suddenly developed an expensive interest in horse racing? I suppose he'll just have to be like most other people and pay his own way for a change.
Thank you all for your answers. Some more helpful than others.

[DrFilth]

at this rate he wll get free full time accommodation.



5 years for benefit fraud..............