Tax credits to UC and savings

[Ladylilac]

We have to move to UC next year , wouldn’t usually qualify for it but on tax credits get a years grace on savings .
Currently have around 35k -38k in the bank between us, 5k of that is children’s accounts ( in children’s names ) which I’ve been told I need to move to a Isa so it’s not counted is this correct ?
we are buying a used car in the next few months before we have to move over , which will then leave us with around 18-20k so over 16k limit .
what would you do , having discussions with my partner whether it’s worth claiming or not because apparently you have to show receipts and declare what spending our own money on etc
would you withdraw the extra money and keep in house in a safe ? Or spend it ? Was going to put some into rent account so that’s covered for a while but we rent with a HA but it seems that’s set up direct debit so only the correct amount goes out each month.
any advice appreciated

@Babyroobs I thought the same - but must have had some aspect of CTC (no WTC as far as I could tell) in order for MM to apply.

Thanks all for your comments especially thanks to those who did provide advice rather than judgemental comments.
we have found a car we are looking at next week and that takes half of the account amount and we’ve not had the date letter yet I’ve been told once get the letter we get 3 months to claim uc so will be fine and then going to pay council tax etc to bring it down , I found a useful group which had a chart for deductions 6-16k as we fall into that group and i think it’ll be ok in the end as the highest 15,750- 16k they deduct £174 , thanks all

It's nuts the idea to spend savings quickly to get more money. It's morally dubious.

I said that on another thread about someone being over the savings limit for UC, so she asked what she could buy, eg clothes furniture and days out to reduce the amount she had so she could claim UC and get her rent paid too. I got called Scrooge, but I thought it as so wrong to have that much but want the government to support you.