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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be gutted at losing my benefit

491 replies

Clappingforjoy · 03/12/2020 19:05

I am going to inherit some money from sale of parents house and have told universal credit to close my claim but I'm gutted about it.
I have always struggled never had 2 Penny's to rub together and it just so happens I will go over the 16000 mark with this money and know i must sound greedy but my income is very low and i am scared this money will all go on living costs.

OP posts:
Whammyyammy · 03/12/2020 23:49

@BoudiccaD

Have you got kids? Someone less scrupulous could put it in one of their bank accounts and carry on.
Terrible advice. You just can't give it away to keep claiming unneeded benefits. The deposit will treat the op as still having it, even if genuinely gave away.

Benefits are a lifeline for people that need them, not a lifestyle choice or and endless pot of money to save people from using their savings, windfalls or inheritance.

No wonder people 'benefit bash' or vote tory when you get posts or advice like this

Whammyyammy · 03/12/2020 23:50

Dwp, not deposit

LadyFelsham · 03/12/2020 23:54

OP.

If it didn't affect your benefits and you could do as you pleased with the money, what would you like to do with it?

Whammyyammy · 03/12/2020 23:54

@Clappingforjoy

I get the anger some people are showing on here I myself know people who are claiming benefits as living on thier own when in fact they have some body living with them contributing and I have seen them inherit money it makes my blood boil
People being taxed on minimum wage may have boiling blood knowing they are being taxed on their small income to support people with over 26k in the bank as they would rather be supported by the government rather than spend their own money....🤔
OffredOfjune · 03/12/2020 23:58

People being taxed on minimum wage may have boiling blood knowing they are being taxed on their small income to support people with over 26k in the bank as they would rather be supported by the government rather than spend their own money....🤔

She's upset about it - she's allowed to be. She's doing the right thing despite the fact she'll more than likely be back in the same position once the money is gone. Save your anger for the people who probably don't disclose inheritance.

BLToutanowhere · 04/12/2020 00:02

What's yours is mine and what's mine's my own. Does that sum it up?

Also OP, don't drip feed. It doesn't end well on here.

Whammyyammy · 04/12/2020 00:03

@OffredOfjune

People being taxed on minimum wage may have boiling blood knowing they are being taxed on their small income to support people with over 26k in the bank as they would rather be supported by the government rather than spend their own money....🤔

She's upset about it - she's allowed to be. She's doing the right thing despite the fact she'll more than likely be back in the same position once the money is gone. Save your anger for the people who probably don't disclose inheritance.

By that notion, should anyone not entited to any kind of benefit due to wages or savings also be upset? No.

Benefits are there for when people actually need them, not just desire them.

This attitude towards benefits is why a lot of people believe they are being abused, and hence vote for governments that oppse them.

Op should be happy that she can support herself unassisted.

jessstan1 · 04/12/2020 00:06

I think people are silly to disclose benefit details to others in real life.

BuntysTwinkle · 04/12/2020 00:40

I just want financial security and would be gutted if this money went

In your current situation I would not waste any time thinking about trying for a mortgage. If you are unhappy in your current home, use some of the money to give it a cheap paint and carpet facelift so it looks nice in pics, then get on homeswapper and look for something else.

You've been given good advice. When the money comes in, have a nice Christmas, but not OTT. Definitely put a percentage in a pension fund, which will get a free cash top-up and is something for your future. Then live as you usually do, and spend the money on reasonable improvements to your life, like a better car. Don't do all of this in a couple of months, space it out. If there is an online course that could benefit your skills, do that too. Keep documentation for everything. Then when it drops under £16k, put a claim in again.

And don't feel guilty. I know very well-off people who claim PIP for their kids and put it in savings accounts tp spend during their future gap years. And they're entitled to do that, it's allowed. There are plenty of tax loophole using penny pinching multi millionaires. Make our current shitty system work for you as well as you can.

BuntysTwinkle · 04/12/2020 01:07

It isn’t fair at all that someone claims benefits with £26k in the bank, it really isn’t.

It's not unfair, it's downright impossible. Hence the thread. She has cancelled her claim.

Undercovermuvver · 04/12/2020 01:11

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

jjnk · 04/12/2020 04:01

Why do people keep bringing up taxpayers?! Alot of people on long term benefits are paying tax! What on earth are people talking about?!

nannynick · 04/12/2020 04:44

A few years ago there was a TV series called The Great British Benefits Handout. RealTruth channel on Youtube has the whole of Series 1. They gave families £26k and they came off benefits. Some did well, some did not. It may be useful to see how people coped with the situation, what they found difficult.

Sarahandduck18 · 04/12/2020 04:52

What about looking into shared ownership?

Sarahandduck18 · 04/12/2020 04:56

You should use some of it to get an appointment with a lawyer. You may be able to put the money in a trust or to your dcs or other relatives.

Worth checking out.

nannynick · 04/12/2020 04:58
  1. Pay off debt.
  2. Sit tight where you are and wait to see what your expenses will actually be once benefits stop contributing towards things.
Council tax will go up for example. Will your landlord continue renting to you if you do not claim benefits, some will and some may not. Moving costs money.
Nyctophyllia · 04/12/2020 05:57

Are you able to up your work hours at all? Or is that def not an option, I'm asking because I presume it wasn't worth doing before as uc would have been reduced accordingly
If you up the hours to cover what you lose in benefits, you'd still get by nit with the benefits a nice nest egg
Care work is bloody hard though, days off were like recovery time, I used to do it briefly
You could also speak to CAB regarding rules round deprivation of capital but you wouldn't get the same level of benefits until you had 6000 or less in the bank

Hunnihun2 · 04/12/2020 06:02

There are plenty of tax loophole using penny pinching multi millionaires.

Exactly this!!

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 04/12/2020 06:23

OP if you are so poorly you are not able to work much do you get disability/non means tested benefits? Think savings cap may not apply for those, worth checking.

Agree with PP can you spend some on things to improve your prospects/security? Training courses to improve your hourly pay without upping hours worked, put some in a private pension, pay off some debts to improve your credit score?

Oldsu · 04/12/2020 06:54

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland

OP if you are so poorly you are not able to work much do you get disability/non means tested benefits? Think savings cap may not apply for those, worth checking.

Agree with PP can you spend some on things to improve your prospects/security? Training courses to improve your hourly pay without upping hours worked, put some in a private pension, pay off some debts to improve your credit score?

You are correct PIP (DLA is no longer awarded) is not means tested so no savings cap, however it is notoriously hard to get
AlternativePerspective · 04/12/2020 07:28

There are plenty of tax loophole using penny pinching multi millionaires. so? The two things are not mutually exclusive.

Ukholidaysaregreat · 04/12/2020 07:40

Put the 10k over into a high interest account for your son. Then keep the rest under the savings threshold and don't stop your claim. Stopping and starting is a nightmare and things often go wrong with payments. That amount would be a good deposit for a small house round here and mortgage payments are often cheaper than renting which is something to think about. Sorry to hear about your parents. Flowers

MaskingForIt · 04/12/2020 07:44

Use £300 of the money to see a financial advisor and ask them how to best invest the money in your future.

I’d be tempted to put £16,000 into a private pension (the government will add 25 % taking it to £20,000) and then keep £10,000 for emergencies/training and still claim your benefits.

Pikachubaby · 04/12/2020 07:44

High interest account?! Grin not seen one of those for decades

MaskingForIt · 04/12/2020 07:45

@Pikachubaby

High interest account?! Grin not seen one of those for decades
Plenty of money to be made in a stocks and shares ISA, but the OP would be better putting the money in a LISA or SIPP to use when she is old.