Hi, my name is Snuggle62! I didn't realise I had to tell DWP about £25,000 from pension

Snuggle62

I am beside myself with worry as received 25 thousand pounds from my pension but did not realize I had to tell DWP.that was six months ago now I have a letter from DWP saying I should have told them with my hand on my heart I did not know .I am severely disabled as had meningitis and septecemia as a child also it affected my brain .I just don't know what to do IME not coping with this Ty for listening any advice will be welcome ty

poppy123456

Hi,

If you're claiming any means tested benefits then the lump sum you received would be classed as savings. If you are under state pension age then the maximum savings you can have is £16,000 before your entitlement to means tested benefits stop. This includes any housing benefit and council tax reduction you may be claiming.

If you're claiming ESA and any part of this is contributions based then this is not affected by savings.

If you're receiving a weekly payment from your pension then this also affects means tested benefits. For Contributions based ESA/New style ESA then any pension of up to £85 per week is ignored. There will be a 50p deduction for every £1 over that amount.

If you haven't already contacted DWP you will need to do that and be honest. Any overpayment will need to be repaid back.

If you're claiming housing benefit and/or council tax reduction then you'll need to contact your local Authority.

steve39

Snuggle62 said:

I am beside myself with worry as received 25 thousand pounds from my pension but did not realize I had to tell DWP.that was six months ago now I have a letter from DWP saying I should have told them with my hand on my heart I did not know .I am severely disabled as had meningitis and septecemia as a child also it affected my brain .I just don't know what to do IME not coping with this Ty for listening any advice will be welcome ty

hi do what i did go to the C, A, B , They deal with this sort of thing all of the time the dwp may tell you that you have got to send then bank statements plus proof that you bought everything over £300 for your own use, so just make sure that you throw them all the recites that you have got, who knows you might get some tax back from it , but let the C,A,B, KNOW that you got a problem first ok 

Snuggle62

Ty for that .I am on full housing benefit and DLA high rate and ESA I am worried sick .I did not know I had to tell anyone I just don't want to be here right now 

Snuggle62

I am getting ESA and high rate DLA for both care and mobility and full housing for.because of my brain injury from the meningitis I dont understand things properly I could kick myself fo not realizeing.i hate myself right now 

poppy123456

Snuggle62 said:

Ty for that .I am on full housing benefit and DLA high rate and ESA I am worried sick .I did not know I had to tell anyone I just don't want to be here right now 

DLA isn't means tested so this isn't affected. If any part of your ESA is Income Related then this is means tested. If you are receiving more than £114.10 per week then at least part of it will be Income Related. Housing benefit is also, as well as council tax reduction, which is likely you're also claiming that too.

The sooner you ring DWP and your local Authority the better it will be for you. As woodbine has correctly advised, it does tell you on all benefit letters that all changes need to be reported and receiving a lump sum like this is a change of circumstances.

Snuggle62

I hand on heart see that as s change of circumstances I don't understand what that means .you feel worse than ever now . maybe the meningitis and septecemia should have taken me as a child as I feel worthless I am so thick .you are right I should have known but I didn't .

poppy123456

A change of circumstances means when something happens, like receiving a lump sum and your savings going above the maximum amount allowed. Or moving house, a partner moving in or out etc etc.

You will need to ring them regardless but when you do just explain to them that you didn't understand that it needed to be reported because of your health condition.

You may also want to get some expert advice. Use this link to see what advice agency is local to you. Put your postcode in and choose the topic "welfare benefits" https://advicelocal.uk/

Snuggle62

Ty

Snuggle62

Ty Mike Ty for taking the time to write all that .I have difficulty understanding things but want to thank you anyway .I wish I knew someone like you personally with the knowledge you have to get through this .I am not eating IME in a right state I just did not know 

Justcheckingin15

@mikehughescq, Not often I say this...but your wealth of knowledge just amazes me!!

calcotti

Please do as suggested and use https://advicelocal.uk/ to find local advice to help you with this.

janer1967

Hi and welcome to the community 

Try not to worry its easier said than done but the worst that can happen is you will have been overpaid and be asked to pay it back 

Did your pension provider not inform you to get financial advice before taking the lump sum and also that it could affect any benefits 

The reason I ask is I have recently requested to take a small pension pot less than 1k and the number of times I had to declare I was aware how it could affect benefits was unreal 

Snuggle62

Ty for messege .no I don't recall anything like that .I am soo worried about my housing too as on full housing benefit and council tax 

Snuggle62

Hi Mike or anyone does anyone know if you are severely disabled and get full housing benefit and council taxhow much savings you are allowed.i am calling council tomorrow .I haven't eaten or slept since got the letter on Wednesday.this is making me Ill.ty

Snuggle62

Also Mike I tried to go on that advice thing and was just confused this is all due to my brain injury from the meningitis and septecemia.i did find disability rights in my area do you think they could help Ty so much for your time ?

calcotti

Snuggle62 said:

Hi Mike or anyone does anyone know if you are severely disabled and get full housing benefit and council taxhow much savings you are allowed.

For Housing Benefit you are not entitled if you have more than £16000. Anything over £6000 reduces entitlement.

For CTR rules vary between councils.

Alex_Alumni

Hi @Snuggle62 and welcome to the community, I'm pleased to see you're finding our members so helpful. 

I'm sorry to hear you're feeling ill, you mention you've not been eating or sleeping? Could I ask if you're living alone? Do you have someone nearby who could support you? Perhaps it's best to talk to your GP about how you're feeling, it's important that you look after yourself first. Take things step by step, and try not to dwell on the bigger picture.

Please let us know if we can help in any way, and best of luck with calling the council tomorrow

Alex

Snuggle62

Ty Alex I do have family looking out for me but IME not great now and my brain doesn't work properly so they cannot help right now I need this sorted as I cannot function not knowing .my memory is bad it's another effect of the meningitis and this stress has brought on abouther meningitis headache they re bad

AndrewHall

@Username_removed

Once again, I thank you for your wonderful knowledge, wisdom and your compassion towards others. 
As I have said severally, you are the reason I read comments here.

AndrewHall

janer1967 said:

Hi and welcome to the community 

Try not to worry its easier said than done but the worst that can happen is you will have been overpaid and be asked to pay it back 

Did your pension provider not inform you to get financial advice before taking the lump sum and also that it could affect any benefits 

The reason I ask is I have recently requested to take a small pension pot less than 1k and the number of times I had to declare I was aware how it could affect benefits was unreal 

The poster has already said they don't know they have to declare, so no leading question needed to be asked. 
The DWP is the real culprit here, trying to made undue recovery. I wonder why many of us don't accuse DWP of dishonesty.