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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

My olive groves stop me from claiming benefits

136 replies

hettyGreek · 22/03/2016 18:49

Hello,

I've lost my job after many years of full employment. I'm a single mum to two children (5 and 7) and rent a 3 bed flat.

I have savings of about £3'000.00 and the only other asset I have is an olive grove in Greece that was my grandparents and has been in the family for over 100 years. It generates no income due to location, current state and actually costs me money to maintain it. On my forms I used the valuation when I received it of about $25'000.00, but this valuation was before the downturn and it is probably only worth a fraction of this.

Even though it does not generate any income what so ever and I'm unable to change anything in order to make an income for me. The benefits office have decided that it generates an income of 50 pounds a week.

All this has been confirmed from various sources including Money Saving Expert and CAB so I'm not looking for advice on the benefits.

I'm looking on advice as to if this is fair and if it is worth me writing to my MP / doing things to try to change the system. I'm going through the process to try to get an up to date valuation, but with the location this is not so straightforward getting it valued from a source they will respect but this is in progress. Until this is sorted I get nothing bar CBJSA.

It would be difficult to sell, and I would rather not as its been in the family for a long time and has been left to me with the intention to pass it on. If I was left a piece of jewellery this would be exempt and I wouldn't need to sell it, so I think the same should happen with this.

Do I have a point about this and jewellery? Most people on Petty Gripes think I'm being treated unfairly but this is a small sample. People on MSE mostly think this is fair.

Thanks for your time

OP posts:

FlibbertigibbetArmadillo · 22/03/2016 19:37

I have to say after just reading the title my first thoughts were either 'this must be a reverse' or 'aww diddims poor you with assets not being allowed to have benefits '
It can't be nice knowing you have to sell family land but that's the way it is. Suck it up

whois · 22/03/2016 19:38

I think it is fair to take assets into account. The land should not be treated like jewellery as you can't generate an income from jewellery.

However I do think you're in a bit of a shit situation.

Can you pay to get a valuation done? That proves its worthless?

AutumnLeavesArePretty · 22/03/2016 19:40

Of course assets should be taken into account, you can't have everything.

You could have spent the time tring to find a get out clause to claim more wisely like registering with agencies to temp etc until you find other work.

MrsTerryPratchett · 22/03/2016 19:44

I know Greece is in the shits at the moment but could you lease it to a farmer over there? Cheap way for them to use land and money for you.

GarlicShake · 22/03/2016 19:45

Agreed - it's not fair on you personally, in your specific situation, but it's a reasonable rule and the benefits agencies aren't set up to make individual evaluations of land overseas.

The £50 a week is generated from a formula, which isn't advantageous to any claimant. For instance, any extra savings you have are assumed to yield 10% interest a year which is pretty unlikely in the UK at present.

Your two most sensible options seem to be:

Have the land revalued
Sell or give it away.

Do get the valuation first. If you got rid of the land while it's still valued at 25k, you'd be guilty of deliberately reducing your assets in order to claim (ie, fraud.) Get a valuation and keep "Them" in the loop.

Incidentally, like other claimants I did sell my jewellery and artworks, etc, before claiming. It's not a requirement but most people try everything to avoid becoming dependent.

HappyGoLuckyGirl · 22/03/2016 19:46

Can't you gift it to ypur child?

MantaRayBay · 22/03/2016 19:47

Why not move to the olive grove? Might be a nice quality of life a la Mamma Mia!

northernlostsoul · 22/03/2016 19:48

Technically you could try to sell it and live on the money.

Instead you want to claim benefits and have an asset stashed away.

It's like saying I want benefits but have a house somewhere I don't use and don't want to sell.

steff13 · 22/03/2016 19:49

I know Greece is in the shits at the moment but could you lease it to a farmer over there?

This is what I was going to suggest. I don't know a lot about the property, of course, but if there are olives on it, it seems like someone might want to lease it.

GarlicShake · 22/03/2016 19:50

Manta, that was my first and preferred imaginary option!

steff13 · 22/03/2016 19:50

Why not move to the olive grove? Might be a nice quality of life a la Mamma Mia!

I was thinking Under the Tuscan Sun.... :)

MrsTerryPratchett · 22/03/2016 19:53

www.theolivepress.co.nz/grove-management/ Seriously, who knew... This is in NZ but people do lease olive groves.

What about an internet company? Sell a nominal 'tree' to North London hipsters and they can get oil from 'their' tree every month. Organic, I hope...

pinkflowerbluesky · 22/03/2016 19:55

I don't think she will be able to claim CTC; I can't, for a (hypothetical) child due to a similar problem.

Op would probably struggle to sell it is the problem.

I do think she should be entitled to JSA. She's seeking a job, so ...

MrsTerryPratchett · 22/03/2016 19:57

www.notonthehighstreet.com/pomora/product/adopt-an-olive-tree-1q LOOK! Maybe you could contact them and ask for them to adopt your trees. Or, nick their idea...

MrsTerryPratchett · 22/03/2016 19:58

Not sure that link works. Have a look for 'adopt an olive'.

GarlicShake · 22/03/2016 19:58

She is getting JSA, pink. It's housing benefit and council tax relief she's after.

harshbuttrue1980 · 22/03/2016 19:59

I'm a taxpayer, and I live in a rented flat because I can't afford to buy anywhere - even a crummy studio (I live in the SE). Why should people like me have to pay our taxes to fund people like you, who have an OLIVE GROVE???? Benefits are for those who need them!

chocomochi · 22/03/2016 20:00

Can you put it in trust for your children! Although have no idea whether this is still considered to be an asset

GarlicShake · 22/03/2016 20:00

Love your idea, MrsTP! Would presumably save the maintenance costs, too.

pinkflowerbluesky · 22/03/2016 20:03

Thanks Garlic - mis read :)

Harsh, because life does have shades of grey or green perhaps in this case. Sometimes stuff happens when you just don't expect it and it can be difficult to make an immediate decision. I own a property, if I lost my job tomorrow I would be expected to sell it before I could claim benefits but it's unlikely it would just sell. Or if it did it would be under the asking price as it needs sprucing up.

Viviennemary · 22/03/2016 20:04

You may think it's unfair in your case as you don't actually own a property. And I can see why. But the point is they have to have rules and it seems that they think your land is worth £25K which you say it isn't. But that's the value you gave them so it's the only thing they can go off. You could try getting it revalued, I'd say that was the only practical solution. I doubt they'd have found out about it if you hadn't told them. Which is a bit annoying.

NameChange30 · 22/03/2016 20:07

pink Do you mind me asking what savings you have and what interest you get? Because unless you have a lot I'd be surprised if it was stopping you getting tax credits.

"Savings do not affect your entitlement directly but, if you are getting interest from your savings, this is counted as income and will affect the amount of Child Tax Credit due."
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/children-and-young-people/benefits-for-families-and-children/#h-child-tax-credit

whois · 22/03/2016 20:10

Well, unless you've got a totally shit job you could probably afford to buy your own olive grove if you really want one. Way cheaper than a SE flat. You sound like a bit of a race to the bottom numpty.

You can buy one for as little as £5,000 according to www.greekgroves.com

Lilipot15 · 22/03/2016 20:12

I'm sorry for your situation OP, but I have to confess to a very insensitive giggle at the thread title. It's one of those that you could imagine the Daily Mail getting hold of.....

pinkflowerbluesky · 22/03/2016 20:13

I don't really have any savings to speak of. Just the property. It's hypothetical as I don't have children but want them so have nosed round it!

I want my own olive grove now ...

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