How are savings actually checked when applying for benefits?

[LittleBeluga]

Despite being on a very low income, my household has never been eligible for benefits due to savings. Due to the increasing cost of living, our savings are now rapidly depleting and we will need to apply soon. But how will they check what we've got in savings? Surely years ago I could have just said we had nothing and they'd never know? Just pondering really, does anyone know how it works?

This^
It's a criminal offence to obtain benefits illegally. Liable to prosecution, criminal record and some people even get sent to prison

So one from dwp told me they look at wills, so If you die with money they investigate if you have been claiming and go after the estate.

Via HMRC I believe but that may not be correct.

You do get support with council tax. Tick a box on Uc form and they send details to council every month of income. I’m paid weekly so monthly income fluctuates and I get a letter from then telling me my new payments on a regular basis.

I’m pretty sure the banks report interest / tax on the accounts they hold so this would potentially flag up if any were in your name.

This is why Mumsnet is not a good source of advice when it comes to benefits.
People post like they know what they’re talking about but it is often factually incorrect and misleading, like the above post.

On UC if your savings are above £16k then it is unlikely you will be eligible but there are some exceptions- such as if it’s from the sale of a home and you intend to buy another- they may disregard it for a period and it will go to a decision maker. There are other exceptions- go on gov.uk for more info.

Savings above £6k but less than £16k? Yes you can apply but there is a tapered deduction.

Equity in property- this is not counted if the equity is in the house that is your main home, you reside in it. If it is equity in a 2nd property then yes it will usually be classed as capital (and as always there are exceptions).

Housing Support- if you own your home with a mortgage and work then no you can’t get Support for Mortgage Interest Payments. If you own your home and have been out of work for 9 consecutive months then you can apply for Support for Mortgage Interest payments but is in effect a loan. Google it.

Council tax- speak to your local authority- I own my home, I get a single person discount.

For reliable advice make an appointment with Citizens Advice.

they 100% do check. At one point (before UC claim), I had 40k in one account for a house deposit, they knew about it even when I did not declare it because it was gone by the time i claimed UC

declare everything and do not lie - thats my advice!

I am on UC. I had to give bank statements. I only have one account, so it was simple.
At one point, my account got to £5.5k, and I was shitting myself. I hate the anxiety that comes with being on benefits.

Many years ago when I worked in a bank, we'd get a report of everyone who had earned more than £15 in interest in a year. Can't quite remember the process but we had to advise the tax office of the names of the customers each year.
Now everything is digital and online, I expect it's done automatically so there will be a cross reference somewhere.