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Original poster

How long after I get an inheritance til I can get benefits again?

126 replies

Hello17378 · 27/12/2023 15:38

I got some inheritance few months ago but got scammed and was wondering when I’ll be able to get benefits again

OP posts:
BlazingJune · 27/12/2023 20:51

How do some posters know the OP invested in crypto currency?

Guesswork?

LIZS · 27/12/2023 20:53

BlazingJune · 27/12/2023 20:51

How do some posters know the OP invested in crypto currency?

Guesswork?

Previous posts

BlazingJune · 27/12/2023 20:56

LIZS · 27/12/2023 20:53

Previous posts

Show quote history

so why all the cloak and dagger posts here?

surely if she wants help she needs to be honest and even link to her previous thread?

Cubbysnowdog · 27/12/2023 20:58

Is it even possible to prove one doesn’t own cryptocurrency?! How will the benefits office know she hasn’t just bought the cryptocurrency trying to be clever to hide the money?

topnoddy · 27/12/2023 20:59

Hello17378 · 27/12/2023 17:23

It wasn’t real crypto.

No crypto is real , it only has a value if anyone who wants to buy it off you . It doesn't exist in any way

BlazingJune · 27/12/2023 21:03

It's neither here nor there when you got or lost the inheritance.

Your claim for benefits will be based on your assets now including savings and income.

If you had a large chunk of money in your bank account and it's gone, you may be asked where it is.

You can't gift large sums money for example , as it can count of deprivation of assets (with the intention to gain benefits.)

LIZS · 27/12/2023 21:03

@BlazingJune quite! But given the difficulties op seems to have maybe they'd prefer not to relive their error of judgement.

BlazingJune · 27/12/2023 21:15

Banks do give warnings and it's usually there when you make any transfer. It will come up with a warning along the lines of 'do you know this person/ payee/ what you are doing?'

You can also set (or they can) an amount above which you can't withdraw/transfer money each day.

I assume you sent something like £5K over 4 days perhaps?

You probably weren't scammed but made a bad decision.

@Hello17378 Apply for benefits in the usual way. Be prepared for the bank to ask for copies of your bank statements and they can decide if you can get benefits.

This is normal practice for all kinds of benefits- providing evidence of savings through copies of your bank statements.

BlazingJune · 27/12/2023 21:16

be prepared for DWP to ask for evidence of savings (or not).

SmileyClare · 27/12/2023 21:25

Cubbysnowdog · 27/12/2023 20:58

Is it even possible to prove one doesn’t own cryptocurrency?! How will the benefits office know she hasn’t just bought the cryptocurrency trying to be clever to hide the money?

Unfortunately this is what the DWP will assume. Its going to be a long drawn out process of proving this wasn’t a deliberate attempt to conceal or soend/gamble assets in order to qualify for benefits.

The expectation is that any inheritance that cancels a benefit entitlement is used to live within your means for a reasonable amount of time rather than gambled away.

Op’s mental condition should be a mitigating factor.

Op you need to gain knowledgeable advice from a CAB advisor or charitable organisation.
Following the advice of people on social media has got you in this mess.😩

Catsknowbest · 27/12/2023 23:27

BlazingJune · 27/12/2023 21:03

It's neither here nor there when you got or lost the inheritance.

Your claim for benefits will be based on your assets now including savings and income.

If you had a large chunk of money in your bank account and it's gone, you may be asked where it is.

You can't gift large sums money for example , as it can count of deprivation of assets (with the intention to gain benefits.)

You will be asked to provide bank statements for means tested benefits, sometimes between 3 months and 12 months worth. It isn't just about gifting money. Deprivation of capital covers a very wide area of expenditure and believe me a lot of detail is often required. I have dealt with several clients in this situation.

porridgeisbae · 27/12/2023 23:37

@Ariadneslostthread I think they would also be entitled to an additional 'loan' on top to cover their mortgage payments. Some people don't claim this as they don't like the idea of it being called a loan. But people only have to pay it back if they ever sell their home.

porridgeisbae · 27/12/2023 23:40

No crypto is real , it only has a value if anyone who wants to buy it off you . It doesn't exist in any way

There is such a thing as fake(r) crypto, where a scammer tells someone they are amassing valuable crypto investments, and they aren't. They're shown their 'profits' on a fake website made by the scammers etc.

porridgeisbae · 27/12/2023 23:46

Following the advice of people on social media has got you in this mess.

This is a good point @Hello17378 inasmuch as presumably it was someone online that scammed you. I like to think we're more use than a scammer but you need to speak to the DWP themselves for advice really, or CAB but I would ask the qualifications of the person before you have an appointment there. Some will just be a random person with no real qualifications or experience and any of us could help you just as well (or just as badly.) Others may have for instance done significant work for the DWP or have other genuine knowledge.

SmileyClare · 27/12/2023 23:48

topnoddy · 27/12/2023 20:59

No crypto is real , it only has a value if anyone who wants to buy it off you . It doesn't exist in any way

Edited
Show quote history

Well quite. Technically you could have purchased a shipment of cocaine on the dark web with your 20k worthy of crypto coins and be running a drugs ring while claiming universal credit.

Bit coins fuel most of organised crime online without a paper trail.

Ive no idea how you’d go about proving your crypto currency never existed.

Presumably you’ve reported this to the police and your bank so at least this scam has been officially documented?

I hope you have real life support- family or friends to speak to.

Babyroobs · 28/12/2023 00:02

Op I have a client who has burnt through a 30k private pension payout in the past 6 months and still managed to reclaim Uc successfully. so it can happen.

porridgeisbae · 28/12/2023 00:13

@SmileyClare @topnoddy I'm skeptical of all crypto, but real crypto can be cashed in for real money if the person's lucky.

Fake crypto the person never stands a chance of making a profit on, because it literally is not a thing at all (even less than crypto), it's just money that's been taken by a scammer.

All the person can do is try to find means of getting their money back.

ireallycantthinkofaname · 28/12/2023 00:23

This thread is so sad.
@Hello17378 I'd suggest also alongside CAB asking if there are any local charities offering mental health support too as this must be horrible to go through. Assuming as you're posting on mumsnet your IRL support is either limited or unaware of your situation (or both). I will say CAB did run money management courses in partnership with one of the local banks in a village hall near me every week for a bit this time last year too so it may be worth seeing if there's anything similar where you are, so you can learn how to avoid being 'got' like this in future. Your local jobcentre can probably signpost too and as they're run by the DWP can certainly offer better more personalised advice than any of us on here.
Best of luck with everything.

SmileyClare · 28/12/2023 00:26

Hmm I understand the difference between fake and real currency.
I would assume op has lost the money with no way to get it back now.

The problem is proving that the money was spent on “fake” crypto as opposed to real crypto currency and also that the scam existed in the first place and op hasn’t just siphoned her money elsewhere.

Investing in crypto currency may in itself be regarded (by the DWP) as deliberately spending assets irresponsibly or gambling money you’re expected to live on.

Op you need someone to advocate for you. This must be an unusual situation with regards to entitlement to benefits which further complicates things.

Ariadneslostthread · 28/12/2023 00:57

No, PIP hasn’t been, but the amount of money cousin receives is based on her having 15k capital, which she doesn’t have. She has no capital, just enough benefits to pay the mortgage. The CAB have been trying to help, and intervene with DWP on her behalf, more statements have been requested and supplied AGAIN !….showing she has had no capital since March this year….cousin now has had pneumonia over christmas, caused a&E said yesterday, by “inadequate diet, hypothermia and poor immune response”. As a family, we are beyond knowing how to help ….

Ariadneslostthread · 28/12/2023 01:04

Yes, but my cousins DH carers and DLAgo to help pay the mortgage. My cousin is receiving less than 50% of benefits due to her. Believe me, as a family we have chased all avenues over this. I’ve even sold my own stuff on eBay, and given money to my Cuz…..she is very lucky that the CAB are supporting her continued use of the food bank , on the basis she has no money for food or heating.

Ariadneslostthread · 28/12/2023 01:16

No, the DWP , nor any one else will help with a loan. The CAB have been trying to help with that. The DWP did give cuz a £450 loan in November, but then took payments at £25 a week back, which meant that we as a family had to try and cover the mortgage shortfall (11.70 a week !). So the loan was useless really because it should have been paid back when issues were resolved, but that isn’t how DWP work. My Cuz has signed up for SMI ( a home loan with DWP paid when your house is sold). There still isn’t enough money to live on. Monthly, my cuz, and DH have £48 left a month after all mortgage payments and council tax. We try to send £40 a week on a rota ( there are myself and another cousin ), but this is becoming increasingly hard :(((

saturnspinkhoop · 28/12/2023 07:42

@Ariadneslostthread is your cousin getting Council Tax Support?

SmileyClare · 28/12/2023 09:23

How awful @Ariadneslostthread

I think it’s naive of posters to reassure op that her benefits will be reinstated as soon as she informs the DWP her £20k inheritance is “gone”.

I would have thought your family members will have no choice but to sell their house and live off the proceeds. It sounds like they’re malnourished and ill trying to live on no money.

Ohthatsfabulousdarling · 28/12/2023 11:44

Ariadneslostthread · 28/12/2023 00:57

No, PIP hasn’t been, but the amount of money cousin receives is based on her having 15k capital, which she doesn’t have. She has no capital, just enough benefits to pay the mortgage. The CAB have been trying to help, and intervene with DWP on her behalf, more statements have been requested and supplied AGAIN !….showing she has had no capital since March this year….cousin now has had pneumonia over christmas, caused a&E said yesterday, by “inadequate diet, hypothermia and poor immune response”. As a family, we are beyond knowing how to help ….

Contact your local MP, they'll get involved and the DWP will act pretty sharpish.

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