A disabled claimant has revealed that they transfer £900 of their benefits each month to their parents to cover mortgage, bills, and food costs. The individual receives Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). However, a significant portion of this money is handed over to their parents as a contribution to household expenses.
Household contribution or hidden savings?
The claimant explained that their parents expect them to contribute nearly a third of the total £3,000 monthly household expenditure. In a Reddit post titled 'Could paying parents monthly be seen as hiding savings (UC)?', they wrote: 'Hi, I receive PIP and Universal Credit and live with my parents. Is it OK to transfer £900 a month to my dad for household/maintenance costs, or could this be seen as hiding money from DWP? The mortgage, bills, and food add up to over £3,000, and my parents expect me to contribute close to a third. I do worry, though, that it might appear suspicious because it’s such a large amount.'
Reddit users react
Reddit users were quick to respond, with many questioning the amount being paid. One user commented: 'I don't know how the DWP will interpret it, but I want to say that £900 per month for room and board in your parents' home seems very steep. That's much higher than market rate. Do you think perhaps your parents might be taking advantage of you?'
The claimant replied: 'It’s not rent. It’s a household contribution toward the mortgage, council tax, utilities and food, and I have access to the whole house. Total household costs are just over £3,000 a month, so £900 is roughly a third of the overall expenses rather than payment for a room. I’m also disabled and receive enhanced PIP, so my parents provide care for me.'
Another user said: 'Yeah sorry it's crazy your parents expect you to contribute to the mortgage. Mine are massively mean and I'm in London, I never was asked to pay as much as you (yet I was still also paying more than anyone I knew).'
A third commented: 'That's absolutely ridiculous... I'm assuming your parents plan on giving you the house one day, considering you're basically paying for it.' Others added: 'Sounds sus (my opinion)' and '£900 a month is crazy... might as well move in to a flat share.'
