Question re benefits

kerbo2003

hi there

my Elderly parents are worried about benefits for my disabled sister. Wondering if anyone has experienced the same as DWP are not being forthcoming and it’s almost impossible to speak to a manager once you ask a question.

Long story short, my mother is the appointee for my severely disabled sister. Has been for over 50 years. With recent benefit changes, most of her benefit are now universal credit and that’s means tested.

My parents have savings over 30k, but you can’t get UC with that. However as my mother is the appointee and my sister technically has no money or bank account in her name is there an issue?

That’s the question DWP seem incapable of answering and my parents are worried there are breaking the rules.

luvpink

@kerbo2003

Hi and welcome to the community.

Sorry I can't help with your question but hopefully some one here with knowledge and experience will advise you soon.

Have you tried asking

citizens advice?

Emilee

@kerbo2003, your mum’s savings are irrelevant to your sister’s claim. As an appointee, she is acting on your sister’s behalf, managing the claim and representing her needs, not claiming for herself.

I don’t know how your mum has things set up, but it can be helpful to have any benefits paid into a separate account from those holding your mum’s own money. This isn’t a requirement, but it can make it much easier to show whose money is whose if needed, and helps avoid any confusion if the account is ever reviewed.

Rosie_Scope

Hi @kerbo2003, welcome to the community! Emilee has given some good advice here already so I won't add too much, I just wanted to pop in to say hello and welcome.

I hope your parents can feel reassured that they're not doing anything wrong by having savings. But as Emilee mentioned, it's worth considering putting your sister's money into a separate account just to make things clearer for everyone ☺️