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UC and Savings
- Holly
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1 month 3 weeks ago #296336 by Holly
UC and Savings was created by Holly
Hi Everyone,
Thank you as always for your support!
I am trying to help my uncle with a claim for UC he has just been awarded PIP.
Prior to his PIP he was made redundant on medical grounds and received a settlement of nearly 18K. He has also received a back payment on PIP of just shy of 2k. He has no other personal income.
My question is this...
My uncle is in dire need of a new kitchen. His is about 30 years old, it is not fit for purpose half of the appliances in it are not fit for purpose or in my opinion safe, it needs completely gutting and a new one installing with adaptations for him. As well as some other essential maintenance around the home. He had planned to spend his redundancy money on this but now is worried sick that if he does he wont be able to claim UC. Until he was medically retired he was only getting sick pay and was really struggling to live, which is why his home has suffered.
I am under the impression that the back pay from PIP wont count as savings because he has 52 weeks to use it... is that correct?
The other question is... will the DWP hold the retirement settlement against him and reduce his UC if it has mostly been spent on genuine repairs/ the new kitchen and adaptations? He will he will of course have proof that the money was spent only on this work in the form of receipts etc. Just to clarify he is not going to use the money in a frivolous way it is just for essential home repairs that he could not afford to do before.
Any advise you could provide would be much appreciated
Thank you as always for your support!
I am trying to help my uncle with a claim for UC he has just been awarded PIP.
Prior to his PIP he was made redundant on medical grounds and received a settlement of nearly 18K. He has also received a back payment on PIP of just shy of 2k. He has no other personal income.
My question is this...
My uncle is in dire need of a new kitchen. His is about 30 years old, it is not fit for purpose half of the appliances in it are not fit for purpose or in my opinion safe, it needs completely gutting and a new one installing with adaptations for him. As well as some other essential maintenance around the home. He had planned to spend his redundancy money on this but now is worried sick that if he does he wont be able to claim UC. Until he was medically retired he was only getting sick pay and was really struggling to live, which is why his home has suffered.
I am under the impression that the back pay from PIP wont count as savings because he has 52 weeks to use it... is that correct?
The other question is... will the DWP hold the retirement settlement against him and reduce his UC if it has mostly been spent on genuine repairs/ the new kitchen and adaptations? He will he will of course have proof that the money was spent only on this work in the form of receipts etc. Just to clarify he is not going to use the money in a frivolous way it is just for essential home repairs that he could not afford to do before.
Any advise you could provide would be much appreciated
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1 month 3 weeks ago #296339 by David
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by David on topic UC and Savings
Hi Holly,
Your uncle's PIP arrears are disregarded for one year for UC purposes.
Any claimant expenditure which is reasonable is deemed not to be deprivation of capital. Your uncle's expenditure on repairs would be reasonable. Did you mean to say that the kitchen is 30 years old?
David
Your uncle's PIP arrears are disregarded for one year for UC purposes.
Any claimant expenditure which is reasonable is deemed not to be deprivation of capital. Your uncle's expenditure on repairs would be reasonable. Did you mean to say that the kitchen is 30 years old?
David
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: Holly
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1 month 3 weeks ago #296344 by Holly
Replied by Holly on topic UC and Savings
Hi David,
Yes sorry I should have proof read before I posted!! The kitchen is about 30 years old, its had repair after repair but the units are rotten from steam damage. Its a fairly old house to be fair.
Yes sorry I should have proof read before I posted!! The kitchen is about 30 years old, its had repair after repair but the units are rotten from steam damage. Its a fairly old house to be fair.
- David
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1 month 3 weeks ago #296345 by David
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by David on topic UC and Savings
Hi Holly,
Yes even more reason to be treated as reasonable expenditure. How about taking photos of all the decrepit parts just in case.
David
Yes even more reason to be treated as reasonable expenditure. How about taking photos of all the decrepit parts just in case.
David
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: Holly
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1 month 3 weeks ago #296346 by Holly
Replied by Holly on topic UC and Savings
Yes I was thinking the same thing, then they will see if questioned that it was really essential. There are so many things these days that can make life a little easier for people with disabilities! His kitchen drawers are a nightmare to open because they don't even have the metal runners inside!!
He is just so scared of putting a foot wrong and the DWP making him suffer that he has been getting worked up.
He is just so scared of putting a foot wrong and the DWP making him suffer that he has been getting worked up.
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