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Bank statements

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Pandapaws
Pandapaws Community member Posts: 499 Pioneering
in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Hi
the DWP have asked to see mine and my husbands bank statements as he took out some money from his pension to pay off a loan. Thy said that they’re interested in times that cost over £500 and that we have to explain what that was for and send them any receipts if we have them. What I’m worried about is them looking at where we are spending our money etc. I feel totally violated! Just wondered if I’m aloud to black out items that are less than £500 but just still show the money side of the statement. Or can we not do that 
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  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 55,133 Disability Gamechanger
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    I wouldn't advise you to black out anything on the statements because they could ask questions as to why you did this.

    There's no rules on what you can and can't spend your benefits money on, that's entirely your decision so they won't question that.

    When you take a drawndown from a pension, this should always be reported, this includes lump sums and weekly/monthly incomes from that pension. (unless the ESA is either all contributions based or New style and then lump sums are not counted as capital.
    I would appreciate it if members wouldn't tag me please. I have all notifcations turned off and wouldn't want a member thinking i'm being rude by not replying.
    If i see a question that i know the answer to i will try my best to help.
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  • woodbine
    woodbine Community member Posts: 11,802 Disability Gamechanger
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    I'm afraid its one of those things where if you want the benefits you have to jump through the hoops, they request my bank statement every year all I do is send them the last page of the most recent one
    2024 The year of the general election...the time for change is coming 💡

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  • Pandapaws
    Pandapaws Community member Posts: 499 Pioneering
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    @poppy123456 thank you for that advice, I didnt think we should black them out, hubby was wanting to. So thank yiu for the advice.
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  • Pandapaws
    Pandapaws Community member Posts: 499 Pioneering
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    @woodbine I’ve never been asked for them before so this is all new to me. 
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  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 55,133 Disability Gamechanger
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    Did you report the drawdown or did they just find out?
    I would appreciate it if members wouldn't tag me please. I have all notifcations turned off and wouldn't want a member thinking i'm being rude by not replying.
    If i see a question that i know the answer to i will try my best to help.
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  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Community member Posts: 2,675 Disability Gamechanger
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    I've been wondering about this lately.  I'm not currently asked for bank statements, but will be when I get moved to UC (which might be soon if I move to another area). 

    I really don't want them to scrutinise every outgoing payment to decide whether it counts as deprivation of capital or not.  :/
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  • Pandapaws
    Pandapaws Community member Posts: 499 Pioneering
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    @poppy123456 no I didn’t report it as I didn’t know I was supposed too. I have been on esa contribution based for 10 years now, but theyve also put me on income related too as hubby is claiming esa too due to disability. It’s an honest mistake as I don’t know all the ins and outs of the benefits etc, there letters are always confusing to me. Doesn’t help when you have a neurological disorder, I find it very stressful not being able to understand 
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  • Jimm_Scope
    Jimm_Scope Posts: 2,830 Scope online community team
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    Hey @Pandapaws, this must be fairly stressful. I'm sorry :( 

    I agree with some others here that it feels very intrusive, but it's something that must unfortunately be done to receive the benefits.

    I also totally understand not knowing you were supposed to. The benefits system is far from simple. Citizen's Advice have an info page on changes you have to report when on ESA.  I hope it helps to prevent you having to go through this intrusive process again.
    They/Them, however they are no wrong pronouns with me so whatever you feel most comfortable with
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  • Kimmy87
    Kimmy87 Community member Posts: 333 Pioneering
    edited October 2023
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    I tried submitting redacted statements very recently for a UC compliance check and that wasn't allowed.
    They wanted 4 months of statements, for my account which issues them quarterly I also wasn't allowed to black out the oldest 2 months worth of transactions. 

    Weirdly I wasn't questioned about money in from eBay selling of personal items (many transactions), but money out, she asked about monthly transactions which were for credit cards, broadband, tv licence, a single transaction of £21 which was a birthday present for my Dad sent via PayPal who lives abroad (I had to explain how PP works ie if the funding source is bank account opposed to card it will show as a DD transaction), oh and the window cleaner who costs me £12 a month.

    Thankfully most of the really personal stuff goes through my credit card! 
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  • Jimm_Scope
    Jimm_Scope Posts: 2,830 Scope online community team
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    That's really insightful @Kimmy87, thank you for sharing that with us. It's always nice when we get a real example that's recent! It's nice to get confirmation.
    They/Them, however they are no wrong pronouns with me so whatever you feel most comfortable with
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    Opinions are my own, such as mashed potato being bad.
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  • Pandapaws
    Pandapaws Community member Posts: 499 Pioneering
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    @Kimmy87 thank you so much for that. I think it’s awful that they’re asking what all your outgoings are for. I know that they only interested in items over £500. I’m assuming that I also have to try and write my reasons as to why I didn’t report it too.
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  • Pandapaws
    Pandapaws Community member Posts: 499 Pioneering
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    @Jimm_Scope thank you so much for your help. It’s so confusing 🫤 I do hope they believe me
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