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.

Then she has no need to try to hide it and grift. Problem solved. She can just cash the cheque.

She’s not trying to hide the money, nor does she need to

Oh my gosh, please STOP.

She does get it though. UC stops at £16k. She is set to get £12k.
She is in a low paid and vital job. I bet she has fuck all after all her bills etc have been paid for.

She posted on here asking what to do. Her nan wanted her to spend the money on a deposit, but it does not look realistic.

It sounds like you just hate people on UC, despite the fact that is the working people on UC are the ones delivering your parcels when you can't be fucked to go out an buy your own stuff, the people that look after your kids in school, the people wiping your nan's ass in a care home. But they are all "grifters" and "scroungers".

I wonder what possessed you to come to onto the money board, and give your unwarranted opinion.

Cruelty is the point!

I say we all ignore these posts.

They are either deeply unpleasant and lacking in logic or they’re on the wind- up
Possibly a bit of both

I think I've read through most of this thread and there's been good advice and some I've had to read back a couple of times. My two penneth?

Keep your council house whatever you do. I did buy my own place back in the day on a low wage and I struggled and had to take 3 jobs - you can't do that as you have a child. Don't do shared ownership or anything as the costs escalate. Just you count your lucky stars on your council place and if/when the time comes you could try and buy it. Yes, spend some money doing it up.

When it comes to UC, I've never claimed it so I don't know but if you can keep UC and still have £6k in savings for emergencies then spend the other £6k paying off your car loan, doing up your house etc which are all legitimate expenses and not "hiding" money. Then you are all win win. You've somewhere secure to live and its affordable, you've done it up nice, paid off your car debt and your income hasn't gone down.

Good luck to you and your child for the future. Onwards and upwards. Your Gran/nanny would be proud.

I think @Cheesemaker26 has an agenda all right. She/he is hugely irate and angry towards anyone who claims a single bean in benefits of any kind. But why???

Just a troll, I think.

FFS the OP does work. What is going on tonight?

Oh wow you've got 2 accounts 🤣 you're committed I'll give you that!

I was just wondering the same

OP works and has a young kid.

What is a "fuck all nothing job"?

No I’m completely different person. Just shocked by your work shy attitude and entitlement.

I work term time only too (in my main job). It is not full time. You might be working 5 days a week some of the year but it is still part (of the) time.

The point is there's scope to increase your earnings and make a better life if you can try and find some work that's all year round. I have a 6yo too and she genuinely enjoys some summer camps and reciprocated playdates, while I do a bit of work. This could be a good option, your dd doesn't need you at home with her for 6 weeks 24/7.

Same.

You're not fooling anyone 🙄

My word I cannot believe some of the posts on this thread.
@Stressedmum6761 I'm also a single parent working in a school, I work my arse off, get up early, leave the house before my own kids to race into school to look after other people's kids, and get paid poorly for the privilege.
I'm not sure what I'd do with an inheritance, I've never had to think about it, but 12k won't go very far. I definitely would not be giving up social housing and trying to buy at this stage. Keep saving, it can be done even on UC and with reduced UC.

OP has a job. Not paid enough but that is not her fault.

Just ignore them OP. Concentrate on doing up your council house and focus on saving up to purchase it. So many people get massive handouts and help for buying their homes and your nan would have wanted you to use that money for buying your own home too.

And arseholes always immediately assume arseholery in others, probably.