Income support for myself and child tax credits.

Hi all, I have noticed that in the last review form it asks whether your dependents/children have savings over x amount. ( I think the amount is £2500) Anyway, I was wondering if there is a threshold that children are allowed to have before you are penalized? I can't find anything online so I am hoping that someone here knows the answer. TIA

Hi, I know how stressful this can be. I had similar issues getting DLA for my son. It was refused on paper and then at appeal, but before the tribunal i gathered evidence (in the form of letters) from health visitor, paediatrician, feeding specialists etc and took this along with me. The tribunal panel were very apolegetic and he was awarded high rate care there and then. Try to get letters from specialists outlining his problems as this will give weight.

Anyone? Someone told me today that if you study via distance learning from home it doesn't matter how many hours you do, as long as you don't get any financial help such as student loan etc. Is this true? TIA

Hi, I am in receipt of IS due to being a carer of a disabled son. I have recently been interested in studying via distance learning ie so at home, not attending a college etc. I have informed IS via telephone but now need to put it into writing. My question is: does study at home equal that to study at an institute? If i am allowed to study up to 16 hours per week, but this takes me longer at home then have I broken the rules? TIA for any replies.

I'm really sorry about your situation, no advice to offer but it seems from previous threads that the waiting process can be long and is the worst part! It does seem very unfair though that in the case of disability that having someone who is helping you can penalize you, I know it can be very hard to actually get help from government agencies, they should be thrilled that someone is doing it free of charge and not costing the government! Can your friend officially become your carer? On a side note, do they have the power to go through emails, phone calls, SMS's etc? i have read about social networking sites such as facebook being used to gather evidence, but the other stuff (that is not public) just seems a tad too invasive! All the best

Yeah, that's where I am. But it's not my usual office so that's why I was slighty anxious!

Thanks for the reassurances guys. The address on the envelope is Mr xxxxxx, Dept of Social Development, District Support unit

Thanks to both of you. On the cop of my cover letter there is a ref: CI so i am obviously the latter. I'm still confused though, does it mean that I am under investigation or does it just mean that I am percieved to be high risk? What sort of things make someone high risk? TIA

Thanks for this forum. This is my first post so i hope that someone can help me. I recently received an A2 income support review form, which isn't due but not unusual in itself. The strange thing is that it had a "GI/CI" stamp on the first few pages, and a cover letter which isn't from my usual jobs/benefits office. On the envelope i'm supposed to send it back in has a particular persons name on it so i am getting anxious that i am under investigation . It also had this GI/CI stamp on the envelope. Does anyone know what this means? TIA