We have received £3000 refund as council messed up our council tax bill. I have been declared mentally ill so exempt from paying. They refunded what i had already paid. We have just put this money in a savings account. When showing proof of finances for benefit checks, because this money came from the council, is it now classed as savings? Thanks x
Arrears of benefits; Arrears of benefits or ex-gratia payments are disgrgarded for one whole year after you receive them, after which they will be classed as savings.
If the arrears made to compensate for an official error or an error on a point of law are £5,000 or more, they can be disregarded until the end of your award of the means-tested benefit.
ESA Regs, Sch 9, para 11; IS Regs, Sch 10 para 7
Gary
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
