Changing to UC and savings question

Hi ZombiesRock,

I need to know which Benefits if any you are currently receiving.
As far as UC is concerned the following are the rules regarding the disregard of Benefit back payments.
Arrears of benefit disregarded as capital
10A.—(1) This regulation applies in relation to the calculation of an award of universal credit (the “current award”) where the claimant has received a payment of arrears of benefit or armed forces independence payment, or a payment made to compensate for arrears due to the non-payment of benefit or armed forces independence payment, of £5,000 or more, and the following conditions are met—
(a) the payment—
(i) is received during the current award; or
(ii) was received during an award of an existing benefit or state pension credit (the “earlier award”) and the claimant became entitled to the current award within one month of the date of termination of the earlier award;
(b) in the case of a payment falling within sub-paragraph (a)(i), it would be disregarded from the calculation of the claimant’s capital if the claimant were entitled to an existing benefit or state pension credit;
(c) in the case of a payment falling within sub-paragraph (a)(ii), it was disregarded from the calculation of the claimant’s capital for the purposes of the earlier award; and
(d) the period of entitlement to benefit or armed forces independence payment to which the payment relates commences before the first date on which, by virtue of section 33 of the Act (abolition of benefits), no claimant is entitled to an existing benefit.
(2) Where this regulation applies, notwithstanding anything in the Universal Credit Regulations, the payment is to be disregarded from the calculation of the claimant’s capital for 12 months from the date of receipt of the payment, or until the termination of the current award (if later).

David

Hi ZombiesRock,

It is important that you try to locate something in writing from the DWP or Housing Benefit as to why you were awarded arrears of Benefit. If it was because of " official error " or " an error in law " then your savings maybe disregarded indefinitely following UC Managed Migration. If you can't find anything you could try phoning your local Housing Benefit department ( or writing ) and ask them the reason why your savings are currently disregarded.
If you are finding this issue too stressful to deal with you could find a local Advice agency to act on your behalf. If you rent from a social landlord they may have a Financial Inclusion officer who could help you.

David