How does this work for UC/PIP?

[janeeire244]

I receive PIP with my parent as the appointee so the money goes into their account which they later give to me or save up on my behalf.

I also get UC but this goes straight to my account due to the fact I set up my own bank account late and decided I wanted the money coming straight to my own bank account.

If my parents transferred my PIP money they get monthly to my bank account, would that be counted as “income” and thus disqualify me for UC? After all, how would DWP know that the bank transfer wasn’t income but was a PIP payment as it wouldn’t be them sending it to my account?

No, pip does not count as income for UC

Wouldn’t it be easiest to just get the PIP paid straight into your bank account now you have one?

Careful about them saving up your pip - you need to declare it if it goes above £6k

But how would they know it was PIP money and not say a gift when transferred? In fact, how do they even find out about income in the first place automatically? Is that only when employers pay via PAYE?

Benefits departments speak to each other. They might at some point check what the money from your parents is to see if they can deduct it from your UC as income, but you can easily prove it's pip.

Is there any reason you can't have it paid directly to you? Have you struggled to manage money in the past?

Yes, and that’s one of the reasons amongst other criteria why I qualified for PIP.

How then do you have capacity to manage your UC and receive it directly but not your PIP?

It's not counted as income, but it will for the purpose of savings so just be careful you don't go over £6k.