Inheritance while on Universal Credit: what are my options?

[Stressedmum6761]

Hi everyone! 👋 I'm currently losing my marbles and need to speak to anyone who's been in the same boat.

My nanny passed away nearly 2 years ago now and it's taken a while for her things to be settled and sold etc. My family passed me a letter today addressed to me from my sweet, beautiful nan and a cheque for nearly £12K. I've been in absolute bits all day I keep bursting into tears. I've never had this much in my life and never ever expected anything from my nan at all and it's absolutely thrown me.

The thing is I know I should be absolutely THRILLED with this money, I'm on my own with DD who's 6 now. We've just moved into a council house 2 months ago and I'm on UC top up which also covers my rent, my job doesn't pay well but it's a school job and I get my holidays off with DD. I'm panicking more than anything because I know that as soon as I cash this cheque UC are going to deduct money each month (about £120 if my maths is correct).

My family said they know nan wanted me to put a deposit down on a house, which again I know if I get a mortgage my UC stops and I'm financially liable for the payments and any repairs etc if anything goes Pete Tong.

I'm thinking about just putting most of it in a LISA for now and potentially in the future buying a house...maybe a once in a lifetime holiday with the rest. I'm just torn because if I buy a house, I'll be so much worse off than I am now getting help from UC with rent payments etc. I've just moved into this house and started decorating and making it my own. I'm worried about the money sitting there and me being so scared to spend anything while also having money deducted from my monthly payments. Again, I'm absolutely ecstatic I've got this chunk of money for security but the fact that it's going to effect me whether I spend it or not is flapping me to the core.

What do I do? Has anyone had experience with coming into money while also being on benefits? Thank youuu from a very emotional and stressed mum.

Why the laugh react?
What is wrong with being a TA?

Go on, explain.

Oh stop being such a martyr. No one's making you do your big scary job with lots of hours, that's on you.

No one is suggesting to sack them. But the attitude displayed towards net contributors is really not on.

OP works. She has not sneered at anyone who does on here at all.

But your attitude towards TAs is fine?

Not important enough clearly 😂 these people seem to forget how many staff are needed to keep their children in a good educational setting.

Once all the personal attacks on the OP are removed from the thread its going to be impossible to follow.

What attitude is that?
Because your only contribution to this thread so far has been sneering at people who are not, even though though they are in important jobs.

So @Stressedmum6761 have you managed to pick out some helpful advice from the batshit?

that’s right. no one is making me. I never said I’m a martyr 🤷‍♀️

I bet her job is a bullshit one that does not actually help anyone at all... just lines pockets.
I know teachers and TAs. The kids they teach will remember them forever.

Trying my best 🤣
So far I've got: paying off any debts, not giving up my council house, putting some away for DD and then keeping the rest for a rainy day, been a lot of batshit so it's been a ride 😅

You can take dc on a holiday too, as long as it isn’t excessive
make sure you and dc cheers Black Rowan with a fanta lemon and a bag of lays whilst you are there for single handedly holding up the entire UK economy and paying for us all ;)

Keep 6k OP and put the rest in an account for your child.
Some people have never experienced hardship or been a lone parent. Ignore the criticism and do whats right for you and your child.
Make sure you keep UC updated regardless as they are able to check bank accounts for savings these days.

Put the £12K in as high an interest rate savings account you can find. Even 3% will get you £30 per month.

That leaves you £90 per month "worse off". If you are planning on buying a house you must already have more than £90 spare income or you wouldn't even be thinking about a mortgage.

Take the hit on a slightly reduced UC entitlement, don't throw Granny's legacy away just to claim an extra £20 per week UC.

DO NOT GIVE UP YOUR COUNCIL HOUSE! Also put the money in someone you trusts bank and say nothing. I’ll get slated on here for that but I don’t care. 12k is nothing in the grand scheme of things, after a few years it’ll just be gone by them reducing your benefits. Politicians steal a fortune off us year after year, the system is an utter joke! Look after yourself and your little girl! The pack mentality of “you’re taking from a system when you don’t need it” is ridiculous. They tip money down the drain daily! There’s no medals for being “morally correct”. Hide that money and take care of yourself x

This made me snort laugh 🤣 I absolutely will be enjoying a sangria thanks to the backbone of the economy that is Black Rowan 🫶

Black Rowan sounds likes some sort of cocktail. If it isn't already, make it up 😂

My objection is mainly to moral grandstanding. Ie presenting a low-paid, part-time job with very low entry threshold and veeeery limited skillset, supplemented by UC no less, as more virtuous or more clever than pursuing a better-proper fill time job.
It sure looks clever option while there are people working full time and paying taxes to allow for such grandstanding.

i bet if there was no UC the OP would have had to find a full time better paying job

I mean, maybe we should be nominating her for some sort of award too? I would be dead in the streets if it wasn’t for her.
oh you could also get dc some new bedding, decorate their room. I am thinking a ‘ I ♥️ BR’ theme. You could put up little decals of the ugly bag she names herself after on the walls and maybe a little shrine in the corner?

Can you have a chat with a UC advisor about what would and wouldn't be seen as reasonable to spend on? (I know there's guidance they should follow but I don't know how good they are in reality though.)

Definitely pay off all your debts first. You'll save a lot of money straight away.

Hope it all goes well for you, and do not feed the trolls, whether here or irl under-bridge dwellers.

Since you have a car with a note on it I would pay that off first that is if the car is still in good condition

Second I would use the rest of it on some type of training or education to get a better paying job that will benefit you and your child for years decades

OK, so where has OP been "moral grandstanding"? .. and whilst you are on that, can you define that?

What is wrong with working in low entry job? You do realise that many very important jobs are low entry.

What is a a "better-proper full time job"?
If everyone got some some "better full time job", then what happens to the vacancies for the low paid and important jobs?

It’s a berry.

A berry... nothing that contributes to society then.