× Members

Advice needed please, Income Support

More
13 years 5 months ago #29805 by Slartibartfast
Advice needed please, Income Support was created by Slartibartfast
Hello,

I`m hoping someone will have some advice for me, as I`m very concerned about the following.
I am in reciept of DLA and income support. In 2007 my DLA was stopped, as I didn`t provide sufficent evidence with my renewal. I appealed, and won, and it was reinstated at low mobility and middle care, and I recieved over £5000 in back dated DLA and income support.
This has remained in my bank account, which I thought was ok, as I believed that someone on income support can have up to £6000. A month ago I decided to use this money to pay off part of my mortgage, so that I wouldn`t be so dependent on benefits, as I would rather help myself where I can. My father, who is in reciept of pension credit, and is the joint mortgage holder, also paid £3000 along with the £5000 I paid. I felt proud that this would significantly reduce the amount of interest that needed to be paid on our behalf.
Today I recieved a letter from income support, demanding to know how I paid off this sum, and telling me that my benefit may be withdrawn.
Have I done the wrong thing? Will I lose my Income support? I`m really worried about this.

I tried to help myself as they say we should, maybe we just cant win. It feels that way.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
13 years 5 months ago #29814 by Faery
Replied by Faery on topic Re:Advice needed please, Income Support
As far as I am aware, as this was a benefit that was owed and paid to you as a lump sum, it should not affect your income support. Perhaps one of the mods can confirm this.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
13 years 5 months ago #29816 by Crazydiamond
Replied by Crazydiamond on topic Re:Advice needed please, Income Support
As you received arrears of both DLA and Income Support which amounted to over £5,000, these are disregarded for the lifetime of the IS award.

Furthermore, you are allowed to have up to £6,000 in savings in addition to your arrears payment of £5,000. If your capital was less than £6,000, you would be perfectly entitled to pay off your mortgage payments using this money, as both capital (below £6,000) and arrears are fully disregarded in this situation.

The Income Support section at you local JCP/BD office have no business in asking how you have spent the money, otherwise it makes the disregards totally irrelevant. They certainly don't have the authority in your particular circumstances to threaten to withdraw your IS payments/entitlement.

I would write to the office which deals with your IS claim and inform them that as the arrears payment and capital can be fully disregarded, you were free to spend the money as you liked, without any effect on your IS entitlement.

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
13 years 5 months ago #29818 by lulu
Replied by lulu on topic Re: Advice needed please, Income Support
Dearest Mark,
When on Income Support you are allowed to keep up to £12,000 not £6,000 and this has been since 2006
Call DWP and ask to speak to somebody who would know.
Good Luck.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Survivor
13 years 5 months ago #29820 by Survivor
Replied by Survivor on topic Re: Advice needed please, Income Support
Sorry, Lulu, but the £12000 figure you cite is wrong.

The capital levels, as Crazydiamond says above, are £6000 (plus any benefits arrears over £5000) without it affecting your benefit, with £1 deducted for every £250 or part of £250 above that, up to a maximum of £16000, above which you get no means-tested benefits.

(If you are over retirement age it's £1 for every £500.)

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
13 years 5 months ago #29828 by lulu
Replied by lulu on topic Re: Advice needed please, Income Support
survivor sorry if I got this wrong. I moved home 4 yrs ago and I was told by DWP I was allowed to keep £16,000 from Sale of my previous home. The balance had to be declared, possibly theres a different set of rules for this when on IS

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Moderators: GordonGaryBISCatherineWendyKellygreekqueenpeterKatherineSuper UserjimmckChris
We use cookies

We use cookies on our website. Some of them are essential for the operation of the site, while others help us to improve this site and the user experience (tracking cookies). You can decide for yourself whether you want to allow cookies or not. Please note that if you reject them, you may not be able to use all the functionalities of the site.