annuities or pension

[dylan1959]

are annuities classed as personal pensions. are they means tessted against benefits-even though its for my kids.tia

[factor-fiction]

If you are receiving income from an annuity it needs to be declared in the same way as any other income needs to be declared when means-tested benfeits are being claimed. Are you receiving income from an annuity?
When you say it's for your kids I'm not sure what you mean. Do you mean teh annuity is for your kids or the benefit is for your kids- if the latter then which benefit is it? However if it's a means tested benefit then I expect the amount will depend on your household income not your children's income

[dylan1959]

what i mean is i am now divorced so my monthly annuity is for my kids and i claim income support for myself. i dont recieve any of it

[factor-fiction]

Okay, but I'm not clear what this annuity could be. Is it definitely an annuity? Do your kids live with you?

[factor-fiction]

I would have suggested that you ask the DWP but I've just seen your other thread in which you have been told by the DWP that you should have declared it so you now have to repay £3000.
http://www.theanswerb...e/Question972595.html
So I'm not sure why you are asking now- are you asking whether the DWP has made a mistake?
Have you tried Citizens Advice Bureau or appealed the decision?

[dylan1959]

this is just in case i do

[themas]

It is really completely simple. If the annuity is in your name - i.e. the income is yours from an annuity you bought or took out as a result of pension contributions you made - then it is your income & has to be taken into account as such for any means tested benefits.

What you do with the income (i.e. in this case you say it goes to your children) does not alter the fact that it is your income, & the use which you put it is irrelevant so far as any means tested benefit entitlement is concerned.

Do not bother to appeal this - you will be wasting your time.