Inheriting Money on UC & PIP

Hi, I always thought that inheriting money was good thing...until I started looking into it.
Is it really true that if someone on UC inherits they get their benefit stopped and can only spend the inheritance at the same rate per month as what the benefit would have been, otherwise they get accused of "intentional deprivation of capital" and have their benefit stopped (if over £16,000) or reduced (if between £6,000 and £16, 000).

That would leave a person no better off if they spent it slowly or worse yet DESTITUTE(after the money ran out) if they spent it too quickly.

Has anyone had this problem do you know where I can find out more.

Citizens advice say they don't know anymore than this, but they did warn that if I pay a solicitor to explain more then the very act of paying solicitors fees in itself would count as "intentional deprivation of capital."

Thanks in advance if any one can shed any light on this.

Hi WD

I recently received an inheritance between £16,000 and £30,000.

I had some credit card debt and rent arrears (due to moving to UC). Which i paid off.

I replaced my older small car fir a newer one but still of small size.

Doing all of above took my savings between £14,500 and £15,500.

Prior to doing all of the above i received advice from David (Benefits and Work) and other forums etc.

I declared everything via my UC journal.I was Very conscious of assessment periods when declaring everything.

On my 2nd assessment period i gave UC update of my savings which was more than 1st period due to receiving benefits.

My advice is to declare bank balance to the penny, keep receipts etc and be mindful of UC assessment periods.

Good Luck