AIBU to think that the inlaws are hypocrites??

[Pinkforever]

Inlaws are very much daily mail reader stereotypes-crow on and about benefit scroungers,all immigrants are out to blow us up etc. Whinge constantly about being "poor" pensioners even though they own 2 houses,2 cars and have thousands in the bank.

Mil had an accident last year that has effected her mobility. She is telling all and sundry that she is now disabled and will be entiled to "all sorts"

There latest plan is to sell their mortage free home,pocket the money and then tell the council to rehouse them.

I know they want to do this so that they can then claim that they really are "poor" pensioners and claim benefits which quite honestly they dont need.

AIBU to think this is in the first instance very hypocritical and in the second-pretty fucking unrealistic? my knowledge of how council housing works is not uptodate but I thought you basically had to accept whatever dump they offer you?_mil refutes this btw-plus surely the benefits agency will enquire about what their financial situation is before they decide on benefits??...

Yeah. They are in for a massive shock.

I would be tempted to smile, sit back and wait...

There's an enormous shortage of council/HA housing where I live. Surely their financial circumstances would be looked at as part if the 'scoring' process and they'd be laughed out of the office and told to rebuy/private rent??

Benefits wise they'll get nothing means tested with over about £16k in the bank. Your MIL, depending on her age, MAY qualify for DLA or Attendance Allowance if she's over 65, but otherwise, nope.

I, too, would be tempted to sit back and watch...

DLA is not a means tested benefit, so if she meets the criteria in terms of her disability, she'll get that whether she's got a penny in the bank or a million, but in terms of getting a council house - HA! And if they try to hide their wealth, they'll be in loads of trouble!

Do keep me updated with their smooth transission into social housing. That one bedroom, 8th floor damp infested shite heap that is waiting for them may take the gleam off their plans pretty soon. Or getting moved to the outskirts of
no where in paticular as being poor pensioners no one will give one fucking shit about where they live.

They request savings details, depending on the benefit depends on how much you can save but I would reckon if they have sold a house then they have probably 6x (at the least) than they're allowed.

Housing will laugh them out the office, they will have made themselves intentionally homeless

Dh tried to point to his mother that they would be the lowest priority and therefore would probably end up some where undesrirable but according to her a "friend" just done the same thing and got a lovely new build flat

Mil bitches about these so called friends all the time-they are lazy scroungers who have never worked a day in their lives but live in lovely council homes and have thousands according to her. Needless to say she is jealous of this!!

I think they have applied for carers allowance-is that the same thing as attendence allowance?-and been knocked back a couple of times. She has been given a blue badge.

Quite honestly she is and has always been a huge hyporchondriac-she is not disabled imo.

Oh and in case anyone is wondering-no I dont particularly like my inlaws....

I don't think she is being a hypocrite, plenty of people do live in council ones and have thousands. You don't have to be penniless to have a council home.

At least they have paid into the system, and they will have paid in significantly if they have 2 houses and earned enough between them to have thousands in the bank, which is more than many people on benefits have done.

It's not up to you to judge whether she is disabled or not. If something has affected her mobility, then she is disabled, but whether she is or she isn't is irrelevant really.

They will have a shock coming if they think they will get a council flat somewhere they want, but in theory, we're are all entitled to social housing.

You need to stop bitching about your in laws and let them get on with doing what they want. you are accusing your mil of jealousy, but you sound ridiculously jealous yourself.

I watched a programme last week about the housing officers in a big city (can't remember which one, sorry), and there was a family on there who really needed moving to an accessible house, as the dad was in a wheelchair, and their current house was totally unsuitable. The housing officers were trying for ages to find something suitable for them - and though they did eventually find something for them, it certainly wasn't a lovely new build flat! And they were a priority, unlike your in-laws, op.

outraged-I can bitch about my inlaws all I like but thanks anyhoo I am not jealous of them-mil certainly didnt work hard for what she has got-she retired when she was in her early 40's....

They are very fortunate with what they have due to being baby boomers and being very lucky with house prices etc.

Paying into the system does not excuse you trying to defraud it in any way whatsoever-what a bizarre point of view!!-do you read the daily fail per chance?....

People might have nice council/ HA home but they've probably had the grotty ones first and made their way to the better ones, I doubt there's many people who have done what your ILs are saying and got a decent new home out of it.

I started in a studio flat (two rooms, one to live in and the shower/ toilet cubicle) my parents lounge is bigger than that flat. I was then moved to a top floor lowriser (I am permanently on crutches BTW) which I was in for 3 years before my GP said it was unreasonable and wrote me a letter. I'm now in a 3 bed maisonette with what will be 4 children soon and whilst it's not tiny the rooms are cramped.

My point is that even if mil was incapicitated then they can easily afford to move to a more suitable home whereas other people in more genuine need are not in that fortunate position.

I couldnt care less if they move to a council house really but just think they are deluding themselves if they think its going to be that east to commit benefit fruad.....

I had problems even getting that because the council thought I wouldn't be suitable for B&B so wouldn't put me on the list.

confuddled-you seem to know a bit about the system so may I ask you a few questions?

I think the inlaws plan is to sell up,ask council to rehome them to mil very specific demands and then claim poverty so that they can claim benefits.

Will the council have to rehome them by law? will the benfits agency be able to find out how much moeny they have in the bank?

Do let us know how they get along wont you, it seems like they are in for a cold awakening.

You can only start a new claim for DLA if you're under 65. 65 and over, a new claim would have to be for Attendance Allowance. Assuming she is awarded AA at either rate or DLA care component at middle or higher rate, FIL could then claim Carers Allowance as long as his income (excluding occupational or private pensions) is less than £100 a week.

Is your MIL under 65? She may not be trying to commit benefit fraud.

Everyone is entitled to apply to adapted housing, it depends on your criteria, not if you can afford to buy another home, but prority will be given to those with little means.

will the benfits agency be able to find out how much moeny they have in the bank

As well as bank statements, checks can be made via the Inland Revenue, they will be asked where they have been living and where their income has come from.

There are ways to find out what money you have but I've never had a bank account so I'm not sure what they do. I should imagine though that an older couple who has never had a council house or clamined benefits and (I assume) being paying their tax/ NI for years is going to look a little suss, they'll want to know why they're not now able to afford to keep on their own home.

You have to be completely homeless with no family to fall back onto (sleeping bag on a relatives floor is a roof over your head) and then they'll put you into a B&B, some people stay in them for years. Intentionally homeless also lowers your priority.

You've also got to factor in that the govt are clamping down on benefits right now, many of us with genuine disabilities are looking at losing our money and being forced into work that we can't do. They will come under so much scrutiny that they won't be able to get away with it.

I'm pretty sure when i was filling out my housing form 9and other benefits) it asked if i had recently sold a house or recieved money from a sale of a house.
The council can refuse to help someone if they've intentionally made themselves homless.
Most benefit forms ask you for how much you have in your bank account(s), but not sure how easily they can check how accurate it is.

It may be possible depending on where they live to qualify for an adapted flat. However they will not get HB if they have money in the bank

Agree with your post outraged.

op to me it seems like you are trying to find out how this can be done by saying its your mother in law who is trying to do
This. If you are so concerned, why don't you just tell your local council about your mother in law and give them her details!!

Nothing you have said indicates that they are trying to defraud the system though. So far you have just said that they are going to apply for a council house and have applied for some benefit that they haven't got.

They have every right to apply. Whether they get anything or not is up to the council or benefits office.

And no, since you ask, I don't read the Mail. I realised it was full of bollocks when I was about 13 and my step dad read it.

She's said they plan to "pocket the money" and claim they are "poor pensioners" to me that sounds like they want to pull a fast one.

BTW, I don't think you sound jealous or like you're trying to get tips to do it yourself. Some people on MN like to read more into a post than is there.