Unearned income / cash gift each month but on UC?

[Unearnedincome]

Would this be treated in the same way (disregarded) like maintenance from an absent parent is ?

My parents are gifting me some money each month to help me out (difficult circumstances and can’t work) just to make life easier - would this be classed as unearned income so won’t affect UC credit at all?

https://ukcareguide.co.uk/does-a-gift-of-money-affect-your-benefits/#:~:text=The%20effect%20of%20gifts%20on,eligibility%20for%20means%2Dtested%20benefits.

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/benefits-charity

Looks like a maybe.

Can they maybe do things like pay a bill or two for you or do you a supermarket shop instead?

Maybe that would be more sensible, just cash or doing the food shop or something rather than a transfer each month . I just wasn’t sure if it would be treated the same way and disregarded like child maintenance

According to the link from the previous poster, gifts from family don't count.

Yes but it said they need to be declared and may affect eligibility to means tested benefits so I was a bit confused !

Might be better what with the new thing where they get to examine your bank account whenever they feel like it if you claim any sort of means tested benefit.

Unearned income can affect UC payments; depends exactly what it is.

However, voluntary payments from family/friends are disregarded.

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/benefits-charity

@Unearnedincome How would UC know if you don't tell them? I'm NOT suggesting benefit fraud but just wondering how they'd ever find out?

Cash only all the way

UC can demand copies of your bank statements and if they see a regular sum being paid in they will question it.

I’d seen recently that they’ll be checking bank accounts

Voluntary gifts from family are definitely disregarded. See case study 3...

medium.com/adviser/universal-credit-and-the-money-of-others-f9de895072d5

Thank you

I dont have any savings so it wouldn’t take me over the £6000 limit, it’s just £600 a month to help out as there’s a bit of shortfall on my rent and in general I was struggling a bit

@Unearnedincome I also read that they may soon be asking banks to alert them about claimants bank account but I thought that was just notifying them if you receive payments over 6k or use your bank account for more than 4 consecutive weeks abroad?

If the DWP were in any way competent I'd agree it's fine but we all know they're shit and it's entirely possible they'd stop your benefits for fuck knows how long even if technically you weren't breaking any rules.

If I were you I just wouldn't risk it. If your parents are happy to help in cash then you avoid that possibility.

I checked before. I give DD2 a set amount each month which reflects a day per week of nursery fees. I was told gifts were fine and not taken into account.

That's a really lovely thing to do.

I’ve been given 5k this month to pay builders for work carried out in my mums home. Benefits want to see bank statements within a week or 2 after being paid into my bank or it will affect my claim. Roughly 2 weeks to provide bank statements or my claim will be affected. I believe my bank definitely contacted them.

Doesn’t 600 pcm equate to over 6k annually?

Nope.

I get a pension for ill health. They take the amount I receive from my UC. I think it is unfair because I have a complete record of NI payments and I paid into a pension, so in effect I'm disadvantaged for doing the right thing.

Do your parents have a credit card? They may be able to get a card on their account in your name. I did this for my carer so if I need something he can buy it for me.

Alternatively a prepaid card that they top up?

If you do either, do not tell anyone. Tell your parents not to tell anyone.

Family support is allowed - no need to hide the payments.

I've just been told I have a review and have to provide bank statements. My boiler was playing up a couple of months ago so I rejuggled a loan I have and was able to release £1300, this was paid into my bank account with the name of the loan company and loan written next to it
Also, my son is in his last year at uni and has been struggling for money so I've lent him a lot of money over the last few months in dribs and drabs but they all have his name next to the transfer and I took out a mobile phone contract for him as he couldn't get credit (he's terrible with money). When he got his final student loan payment I not only asked him for all the money back id lent him but I also asked him for the phone payments back and those going forward up to the end of September when I'm hoping he'll have a job by. He paid me approx £1800. I'm really hoping they don't see this as benefit fraud. I can't sleep.