Housing Benefit

[naomi24]

Is there a savings related cap on it? Someone I know receives her old age pension, lives in a council flat and has her rent paid for her but has around £75,000 in savings. I would have thought that makes her ineligible.

[naomi24]

Cross posted, LB. Years. Most of her life in fact. She's worked very little and then only spasmodically.

[pixie374]

Naomi, I don't believe you pay "extra" for spare bedrooms, but you don't get HB for rooms you don't need, so would have to make up the shortfall.

[naomi24]

Yes, I knew that. Poor wording on my part..

[pixie374]

Fair enough.

[Theland]

That is one of my worries when I die, that my wife will have to claim HB to get by. Our rent is £600/m.
Her pension and half my company pension will give her a total of about £850/m.
My youngest son lives with us, but he is hoping to start training soon, for £5000/pa plus borrowings.
We have no savings at all.
Three bedroom, so bedroom tax will kick in sometime.

[Theland]

I know that HB is reduced by 14% for a spare bedroom, and 25% for two spare.

[pixie374]

If you aren't claiming HB now, theland, there won't be any difference there.

[Theland]

Cheers Pix.

[anneasquith]

Have you asked your ‘ friend’ ?

[ladybirder]

Apparently hiding savings in a relative's account is quite common. If you look at the links to previous Benefit threads underneath this thread, particularly the last one I think it is, you will see the cost of benefit fraud to the taxpayer is outrageous.

[naomi24]

No, I haven't, anneasquith. She was talking about her housing benefit last night and it didn't occur to me until after she'd left. I will though.

[naomi24]

//Apparently hiding savings in a relative's account is quite common. //

I don't doubt that ladybirder.

Oh ... and anneasquith ... the quotes you used around 'friend' are surplus to requirements. We've been friends for years.

[anneasquith]

If you are 100% sure of the facts, you should report Your friend For benefit fraud. There is an anonymous telephone number available .

[Peter Pedant]

this is the politics of envy innit?
yes I thought it was a £16 000

if you are going to dob her in - as a duty (*) then make it anonymous - the authorities I have on good authority, never act on signed information

(*) it had was higher than a duty - it had become a pleasure. ( the divine oscar)

and yes I have made a few signed voluntary declarations in my time. It is better than dinner with your ex in laws

[Peter Pedant]

oh ! anne got there before me
practice makes perfect I suppose

[allenlondon]

That’s right, shop her! Never mind how old she is, dob her in (as Peter puts it).

That’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? Send her back.

[Cloverjo]

I’m sure Naomi won’t dob in her friend, anneasquith.

[naomi24]

Allen, do calm down. You appear to have lost the plot ... again.

[allenlondon]

QED.

[maggiebee]

Why are you so interested in your friend's finances Naomi? Realise that your friend disclosed some information but why would you feel compelled to check it out?