Help - advice needed

mark_com

Dear all,
I hope everyone is doing well.

I am disabled ( with PIP and LCWRA on UC ) nothing else meaning i live at home with parents so no housing benefit / housing element. & single.

Someone was thinking to gift / provide a home for me ( outside uk ) very cheaply so I can at least hope to get some medical treatment in that country ( europe ).

How owning a house will affect my UC despite not claiming any housing element?

I understand UC is mean-tested benefit ... but i'm really unwell, if anything extremely ill and UC with LCWRA is keeping me alive - and losing this will mean I will not be able to buy the essential items for my disabilities.

Kindly understand that i'm on benefits because life has taken a u- turn recently, and my only hope is to get better treatment in an european country.

mark_com

 https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6354771/mum-buying-me-flat

There's something similar posted here - not sure if it helps

woodbine

@mark_com hi and welcome to scope, it may depend on which country you are thinking of moving to and their benefit(s) agreements with the UK.
There is some info in the link:
https://www.gov.uk/claim-benefits-abroad

mark_com

Hey @woodbine many thanks for your help.

I am not thinking to move permanently - just maybe few days in a year over there for medical treatment.

I will stay here in UK forever.

Was wondering if UC will be affected as I don't take the housing element - or if the ownership of property will be counted as an asset making my UC null?

Kindest regards,

poppy123456

If you're not going to be living in the property then it will affect your UC if the capital in that property is more than £16,000. This will mean your UC will end. PIP won't be affected because it's not means tested.

UC is one benefit made up of many different elements and it's all means tested.

Jimm_Scope

Any property that is not your own home is counted towards the savings cap for means-tested benefits. I'm afraid owning that home would likely end your UC if it is not your main home.

Savings rules in working age benefits - Entitledto goes into some detail about it if this helps.