To think 1200 is a quite a lot in a bank account for someone on benefits

[Happiestyearofmylife]

Not a benefits bashing thread. Dd is currently unable to work. She gives me £400 a month. She currently has 1200 in her account and feels like she isn’t saving enough. I’m trying to re assure her that when you have limited money that’s quite a bit.

PPs, clearly her paying 400 bills isn't 'too much' if despite that she's still managed to save 1200!

Not everyone has the privilege of not needing their kids money for the house bills. Nor should her DD be not working, getting money, AND having no/limited outgoings.

Which benefits is she on because job seekers is not as much as £100pw

Im guessing she's on disability benefits? Pip and high rate UC is £350 per week.

She's sensible to have a safety net saved up tbh. As benefits can stop at any time. So long as she has less than £6000 she's fine.

I don't think 400 is too much if that is rent and utility but if she's entitled to ESA she must be unable to currently work.
1200 would soon go to replace a washing machine and fridge I.E. so it's hardly savings and as a pp said hardly a deposit.

The money she gets isn't for rent though. She sounds like she'd be better off out and on housing benefit.

And if you cant afford rent without her benefits are you in the right place?! It sounds like you're taking advantage.

If she's on ESA and PIP she's clearly not able to work.
£400 is a lot to take off her

How many other adults are there and are they also equally contributing £400 a month?

If she's on top whack ESA and PIP then that's roughly £260/wk. If course if she isn't getting full PIP, then her benefits might be more like £180/wk. If you want an answer then you should really say what her income is.

People on benefits are officially allowed up to 6000 on their bank accounts I believe.

Which isn't a lot in a pandemic if you need it for contingencies like moving house, (lots of rent contracts going pear shaped), washing machine breaking down, preparing for getting a job. Travel to get a job. Further training to get back into work...any other kind of emergeny...getting Covid...getting long Covid, having an accident...the list goes on...

why is it ok for people in paid work to have a buffer, but not for people on benefits?

Surely people on benefits are more vulnerable to these things than people with vast amounts of savings?

No £1200 is nothing and I say that as someone disabled on PIP myself. Does she have a life time or limited award? If it’s limited then you’ll know yourself that PIP is notoriously hard to get and what happens if she comes up for review and she gets rejected?

£1200 is barley enough for a deposit to move out and start renting if she ever wants to do that. It’s barely enough for anything if something happens either.

Have you calculated if she’s better off on universal credit than ESA?

What percentage of her benefits is £400?

Need more info.

How old is she, how much is your rent if she's paying £400? Did you not live in that house before she was old enough to contribute, if so, why all of a sudden can't you afford it? Are you working or have your circumstances changed?

People on benefits are officially allowed up to 6000 on their bank accounts I believe.

It’s £16,000. Any savings between £6000 and £15,999 in bank makes the benefit amount lessen depending on how much and circumstances, I guess.

@VladmirsPoutine

She currently has 1200 in her account and feels like she isn’t saving enough.

Well if she's shelling out £400 a month to you I'm not surprised she feels like she's not saving enough.

Benefits are specifically for her living expenses. You think OP should pay for the living expenses herself so her dd can save all of her benefits in a savings account?

Also just to add with PIP there’s no maximum savings limit. It’s not a means tested benefit. Just for the ESA.

It’s more than a lot of people, on benefits or not, have in savings at the moment. Whether it’s a lot for her probably depends on what her plans are, if/when she’s likely to be able to return to work etc.
£400 a month for rent, utilities food etc sounds likely reasonable, a lot of posters on mumsnet don’t seem to get that not everyone is able to continue to fund adult children living with them though.

Are people forgetting the point of benefits?! She is being given the money to pay rent and bills and survive. She is able to do that AND save, OP is doing the right thing. Her daughter could not afford to live on £400 or less elsewhere, plus has support in the home. OP has said she wouldn’t need to have that sized home otherwise, very easy to see how OP could downsize to a cheap 1 bed if possible!

OP you’re doing the right thing

She isn't being given money to pay rent. That would be housing benefit or housing element.

OP has explained she wouldn’t be able to afford there without her contribution, she would move somewhere smaller/cheaper if her daughter didn’t live there and that she is only there because of the fact there are other adults living with her.

How much is she managing to save per month? If there is a limit on what she can save due to the benefits could she maybe increase what she gives you now and you save it for her so it doesn’t impact/look suspicious in future?

@Holweighthelp

Are people forgetting the point of benefits?! She is being given the money to pay rent and bills and survive. She is able to do that AND save, OP is doing the right thing. Her daughter could not afford to live on £400 or less elsewhere, plus has support in the home. OP has said she wouldn’t need to have that sized home otherwise, very easy to see how OP could downsize to a cheap 1 bed if possible!

OP you’re doing the right thing

Of course it's right...people on here live in a dreamland! Not everyone can support an adult with absolutely no contribution!

If she moved out she would be given housing benefit to pay rent.

Esa is instead of jobseekers.
Pip is to support a disability - not to pay rent.

@L1ttleSeahorse

She isn't being given money to pay rent. That would be housing benefit or housing element.

No. You can't get housing benefits when you live with yuor mother. She's being given money to live on. OP shouldn't have to pay her expenses.

@RussianSpy101

If you’re referring to the daughter you posted about yesterday who is seriously struggling with her mental health and has just been discharged from the crisis team then I think taking so much money from her is disgusting, to be honest.

This with bells on!

The money she is given isnt to pay rent though. She would get that AND housing beenfit if she moved out