Reporting UC saving changes

kez7

I’m my sons appointee for both PIP and UC when I applied for uc for him I put his bank details in but when we went for id check the lady charged them to mine as she wasn’t happy and put reason for using my bank account as I was appointee. So. I now just transfer his payments to his bank account. I need to report saving charges for him on his account how do I do this if they have my bank details?.

poppy123456

You just tell them how much capital he has. It doesn't matter where it is, if it's more than £6,000 there's a £4.35/month deduction for every £250 or part thereof over £6,000.

Capital of less than £6,000 is disregarded.

kez7

I understand that I have to inform them but as far as I know they have the right amount of savings or what was at time when I set up his u c aplication with his bank details then after a visit to job centre they changed bank details to mine . When trying to change savings amount on journal it asks for last four numbers of bank account which would need to be his account But it’s paid in to my account so I’m getting confused not sure why she was so insistent on being in my account as I thought it could be paid in to his?. At the moment his account is just under £6k but when his next payment goes in it will be over the £6 k limit his assessment date is 19-18th.

anisty

The problem is if he had a bank account in his own name, once he is over 16yrs old, you have no control over that account unless you apply to the courts for a financial power of attorney over your son's affairs.

Being a DWP appointee gives you no legal rights where the banks are concerned. You would not be able to legally access money in the account or have any control at all over your son's spending. The bank would not have discussed anything about the account with you due to confidentiality reasons.

The way round this - and what i do with my son - is to open a joint bank account in yours and your son's names. All benefit payments can go there.

That keeps everything separate from your own personal accounts. This will be acceptable to DWP.

My son has a cash card for the account. I have the banking app so any spends he does come up right away - i can keep an eye whilst he has some independance.

I have full access to the account to buy things he needs.

Most importantly, i can contact the bank if needs be without my son needing to be there.

Personally, i don't think you were given good advice. To have your son's money mixed in with your own must make it incredibly difficult to see what belongs to each of you.