I get income related ESA HB. What happens if I refuse inheritance money and let my sisters have it?

wjuk321

Can anyone advise?  I get income related ESA HB and have a social landlord.  Im prob going to inherit about £100,000.  I cant buy anything in SE London at that price.  Im told a Deed of Variance could affect my benefits. What happens if I just refuse the money and let my sisters hv it as if I take the money it will last about 5 to 7 yrs by time I paid rent and lived off it.  I asked my mum to leave my share to my son but it appears she didnt listen.  Please help me releave the stress as my disability is  mental health.

wjuk321

Hello.  I came across this site and hv desperately looked for people who understand my difficulties and benefits.  Im so grateful for support and information in advance.

wjuk321

Teddybear12
How do i post a question?

Tori_Scope

Welcome to the community @wjuk321 You can ask a question on this thread, or start a new discussion. You can see the list of categories into which you can post your question here on the categories page. I hope that makes sense! If you have any questions about how to ask a question, please just give us a shout. 

Jo_2022

Hello @wjuk321!  Thank you for reaching out. A friendly welcome to you! It’s great you have joined the community. What kind of support and information are you looking for? Best wishes 

poppy123456

It could be seen as deprivation of capital and you'll still be classed as having that money. Is any part of your ESA contributions based? If it is then this will not be affected and you'll continue to receive this. If you're not sure then you should ring DWP and ask them.

calcotti

Just letting them have it or making a Deed of Variation will both be likely to be treated as deprivation of capital. You went about it the right way by asking your mum to rewrite her will but if she has died without doing so the money is legally yours.

poppy123456

woodbine said:

what type of ESA do you get?

OP says..

wjuk321 said:

  I get income related ESA

A lot of people get confused between CB and Income Related so if they're not 100% sure then they will need to ring ESA to ask. However, once the money goes into their bank they will need to report the changes anyway and i'm sure they will be informed if part of the ESA is Contributions based.

poppy123456

woodbine said:

But ESA can be part income based part cont. based I know mine was and after inheriting money I kept the con.based, that was why I asked the question.

Yes I know, which is why said in my first comment.

poppy123456 said:

Is any part of your ESA contributions based? If it is then this will not be affected and you'll continue to receive this. If you're not sure then you should ring DWP and ask them.

wjuk321

Hello I tried to put a seperate post up but here goes.

Can anyone advise?  I get income related ESA HB and have a social landlord.  Im prob going to inherit about £100,000.  I cant buy anything in SE London at that price.  Im told a Deed of Variance could affect my benefits. What happens if I just refuse the money and let my sisters hv it as if I take the money it will last about 5 to 7 yrs by time I paid rent and lived off it.  I asked my mum to leave my share to my son but it appears she didnt listen.  Please help me releave the stress as my disability is  mental health. - clear

Im very low at the moment.

poppy123456

wjuk321 said:

Hello I tried to put a seperate post up but here goes.

Can anyone advise?  I get income related ESA HB and have a social landlord.  Im prob going to inherit about £100,000.  I cant buy anything in SE London at that price.  Im told a Deed of Variance could affect my benefits. What happens if I just refuse the money and let my sisters hv it as if I take the money it will last about 5 to 7 yrs by time I paid rent and lived off it.  I asked my mum to leave my share to my son but it appears she didnt listen.  Please help me releave the stress as my disability is  mental health. - clear

Im very low at the moment.

You posted a separate thread here yesterday which you can see here. https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/90618/i-get-income-related-esa-hb-what-happens-if-i-refuse-inheritance-money-and-let-my-sisters-have-it#latest

As advised in your other thread if any part of your ESA is Contributions based then this won't be affected.

The inheritance will affect all your means tested benefits, whether you decide to accept it or not because not accepting it, will likley be seen as deprivation of capital.

wjuk321

Thank you so muchfor your help.  I posted again under my welcome introduction post as I couldnt work out how to post but it obviuosly worked whatever I did.

  Its all income based.  I tried to live without claiming as I couldnt cope with dealing with my affairs so I was earning nothing just delivering leaflets for an estate agent now and again.  I ran myself into the ground but my mental health couldnt take the stress of work or signing on and It meant I didnt hv to deal with people.  It wasnt even a real job but what kids do after school like a paper round.

wjuk321

Thanks this thread has repeated and I dont know how to remove it. 

But if I hv to take the money has anyone any suggestions how to spend it the wisest and what to do to make reapplying easier when money runs out?  I thought of a caravan so it lasted longer but Im only 55.  I wanted to try sheltered housing but without support I cant see me even being able to move!  

I thought my circumstances were difficult and getting worse, but it appears this money is icing on a mouldy cake  : (  

wjuk321

They stopped my PIP when I got my dog for support.  At about same timings.  Dont think they said it was the dog. 

Sorry if this is very disjointed.  I cant easily work this site and internet is tethered from phone and really slow.

poppy123456

Is there any reason why you can't continue to live where you are now? You will of course need to pay the rent yourself.

Once the money goes below £16,000 you will be able to reclaim benefits but you will need to claim Universal Credit.

If all of your ESA is Income Related you can ask for your NI credits to continue to be paid. First thing you need to do is ring ESA and ask if any part of your ESA is Contributions based.

wjuk321

I cant use a phone so that makes life difficult.  No I could stay here, but even as I write Im screaming inside having to listen to my awful loud obnoxious neighbour shouting (her norm) through the wall.  
She only has one volume. Unfortunately its FULL.  
I hate living in my lovely flat because I dont get sleep when I want and its like living on top of a youth club

wjuk321

Will i be worse off on UC than Income related ESA.  Obviously no one can say for sure without looking at the individual case but in general is UC better? Im assuming it isnt!

poppy123456

Some are better off, others are worse off. With £100,000 inheritance it will be quite sometime before you'll need to claim UC anyway.

poppy123456

@Alex_Scope @Tori_Scope @Libby_Scope Could you please link this thread with this one https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/90612/hi-my-name-is-wjuk321#latest both threads have the same questions so it's rather confusing keeping up with both.

calcotti

poppy123456 said:..
 First thing you need to do is ring ESA and ask if any part of your ESA is Contributions based. 

Sounds likely that it is all income based because of what OP said here

wjuk321 said:
  Its all income based.  I tried to live without claiming as I couldnt cope with dealing with my affairs so I was earning nothing just delivering leaflets for an estate agent now and again.

poppy123456

Thanks calcotti, i missed that as got confused going between 2 different threads.