When you claim benefits do they take into account any savings you might have??

[CvQ]

i could really do with some advice. ive only got 5 weeks until i may need to do this. am i leaving it a bit late?

Seriously, this is your worst nightmare?

when it come to this money yes

We had to claim HB when TCO screwed up our claim.

I'd have liked to do anything but, it was such an awful time, but until DH was able to find a job to fit round my day job it was that or not be able to pay rent. I'd have taken money from the Devil himself had it been on offer.

We had to take our bank statements (we don't have anything but a joint current account) in to be photocopied, paycheque receipts from my job, DH's DLA statements, etc.

Everything.

And they make you renew from time to time and go through the whole tihng again, so there's no getting out of not declaring.

I know it's hard, but it has to be this way because there are some people who will take advantage of the system.

getting evicted is horrible. so is becoming homeless.

thanks expat
i do appreciate your info its kind of hard to take in when its not what i expected.

you have to declare absolutely everything.

if anything changes it must be declared immediately - if it is in your favour, then they will only pay from the time you notify, if it is in their favour, they will backdate to the time of the change.

they come and look at every scrap of paperwork you have every 6 months.

if you try to earn a little extra money to make the pittance you are surviving on worth it, then they take it away again. You get a bonus for working hard, it gets taken away again.

You accepted the money. You have a child to support. Use it.

CvQ - I know only a little of what you've been through but this isn't blood money, it's money to help you get back on your feet again. Are you having any kind of counselling at all? It might help you to come to terms with the money. Again, apologies if you are.

yes i am
and i know i went for the money but unless youve been where i am i dont think anyone can really understand what it feels like when that money comes through.
anyway i dont want this to turn into a discussion about my CICA so thankyou everyone whos given me the info.

no problem sweetie.