ESA and Gambling Win?

erialc80
erialc80 Community member Posts: 5 Listener
in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Hi all,

Ashamed to say I've had a gambling habit, I make sure when I get my ESA I pay housekeeping and any other bills but then throw the rest away gambling :(

Anyway, I've got lucky and won £2,818 so have signed up to Gamcare and GamStop. Also have an appointment with my GP, as my gambling has been due to depression

My question is though, what do I do with the £2,818 I've won? I'm too scared to transfer it in to my bank being on ESA so haven't done anything with it yet

My current account balance is £407.66 and that is the only account I have, I don't have any savings accounts or anything

I know there is a £6k limit, but is that the money you currently have in your account or does it include money I have and stupidly thrown away within a day?

Thanks for any help

Comments

  • Dave1993
    Dave1993 Community member Posts: 136 Empowering
    edited November 28

    you are fine to xfer it too your bank but seek help my friend the 2.8k win is probs nothing in comparison to what you have put on atleast thats my way of thinking

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Community member Posts: 3,418 Championing

    For ESA, the £6k applies to any day that there has been more than £6k in the account as a total account figure.

    It does not add up different days if money has been taken out before more money comes in.

    As you are well below the £6k limit, there isn't anything wrong with moving £2.8k to your account. However, that amount could automatically trigger a savings check, just to make sure it hasn't gone over £6k at all.

  • whistles
    whistles Community member Posts: 1,852 Championing

    You are fine to tranfer it.

    I think it's also sensible to get help if it's due to depression.

    I like the odd flutter on the horses, but can stop

  • erialc80
    erialc80 Community member Posts: 5 Listener
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/947827#Comment_947827

    Thanks, yeah using this a motivation now to stop. Like you say, it's nothing in comparison to what I've lost

  • erialc80
    erialc80 Community member Posts: 5 Listener

    Thanks, with it possibly triggering a savings check would it be best to transfer the whole amount at once or in parts?

  • erialc80
    erialc80 Community member Posts: 5 Listener

    Yeah, I lose and then chase loses. Determined not to do that now I have this £2.8k

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 61,808 Championing

    You don’t need to withdraw it in smaller amounts because it’s disregarded anyway due to you having under £6,000 in capital.

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Community member Posts: 3,418 Championing

    I have read that amounts over £500 in or out can trigger the automated bank checks but no solid evidence to confirm that.

    Splitting £2.8k into smaller lumps than £500 each could also be classed as unusual income activity on your account and trigger the automated check as well.

    The best advice I can offer is just to move it as a lump sum, but be prepared to send bank statements afterwards just in case they do ask you for them.

  • erialc80
    erialc80 Community member Posts: 5 Listener
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/948138#Comment_948138

    Thanks @poppy123456 :)

    Is it the case that if I transfer it all to my bank without telling them it will trigger a savings check? I have social anxiety so find anything like that difficult, that's why I'm on ESA

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Community member Posts: 3,418 Championing

    To be clear, I never said it would definitely trigger a check. I just said you should be prepared in case it does. ESA can ask you to provide bank statements at any time.

    Banks are checking for 'unusual transactions' all the time as they have a legal obligation to do so. They use computers to do that automatically, and when one gets flagged up, that information goes on to be checked by a human. The human decides whether further action is needed, such as reporting to DWP or HMRC etc. In most cases this all goes on behind the scenes and people won't know about it.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 61,808 Championing

    Having said all of that capital is counted regardless of where it is, so even though you haven't yet transferred it into your bank, it still counts. As you said you don't have anything over £6,000 it's disregarded anyway.

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