Inheritance UC and wanting to purchase house

[financeissues]

I’m on UC. No savings. In LA housing. If I were to inherit money would they allow me to use it to buy my council house and not have to come off UC . Can inheritance be disregarded for a set time if you intend to buy a property?

Pretty sure the house you purchased will count as a capital asset meaning you're not entitled to UC.

Not true if its the house that the op lives in. Its only properties unoccupied by the claimant that count as a capital asset.

I can't say whether there could be a disregard in this situation but it may be worth speaking to the solicitor to see if you can co-ordinate the inheritance and purchase so you don't effectively have it as savings.

Thanks I just wasn’t sure as this is a situation unfortunately in the very near future I think and I wasn’t sure if we would have to live off the inheritance for a short time and stop UC or if we would be allowed to buy our house then carry on with UC minus the rent element

I don't know if you can buy your council house but yes, you can buy a house whilst on UC. You'll have to move very quickly though from the point the money lands in your account.
In my case (divorce settlement from the sale of former family home) I had to provide evidence of money, evidence of intention to buy and the particulars of the property I intend to buy.
The DWP then held a meeting on whether to allow me to proceed whilst disregarding the implications on UC.
The property had to be suitable for my needs and not in excess of them.

The DWP allowed me to be in the possession of money for 3 months.
So I bought my house auction-style to fit within the time frame.

@CompulsiveReader
Of course you can own a house and be in receipt of UC! You just lose the housing element part of it.

Clearly don't listen to me as I've misunderstood!

@financeissues

I also had my ExH delay the transfer of money into my account to get extra time to find a house. See if anyone can hold it for you securely (maybe a solicitor) until you have a definite plan.

I moved to a different part of the country and just started receiving my UC without the housing component straight away.

I too would love to know.