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Illness Benefit; means testing of spouse

  • 11-11-2013 12:29pm
    #1
    Genkhis
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3 ✭


    Hi,
    I left work due to illness and I claimed Illness Benefit for two years. I claimed for my wife also as she was a stay at home mother and has no income. Now, I have received a letter for Dept Social Welfare saying that they have information from the Revenue that my wife has savings which I didn't declare. I guess that this is DIRT on a bank account that is in our joint names. I never thought that the spousal part of the Illness Benefit was subject to a means test in the first place ! I have paid lots of tax and prsi for over 40 years.

    We have some savings in our joint names, that came totally from my income, as she had none. I put it in our joint names to make things easier for her in the event of my death. I would never have thought of declaring them as hers, even though her name is on the account.

    My question is: Can they take an asset like that as her property for the means test?

    Thanks in advance for any help on this.


Comments

  • #2
    Balagan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,168 ✭✭✭Balagan


    [Social insurance payments are based on PRSI contributions and are not means tested. However if you wish to claim for a dependent their income will be assessed. An adult dependant's income is assessed for social insurance payments as follows...
    Capital
    Income from capital, for example, property, savings and investments, is included in the mean test. If you and your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant hold capital jointly, half of the value is assessed as belonging to your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant.
    If property is owned jointly or only by your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant the rental income from the property is assessed for payment of an Increase for a Qualified Adult with your social insurance payment. However, the capital value will be assessed if the property is not rented...I][/I]
    http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/irish_social_welfare_system/claiming_a_social_welfare_payment/claiming_an_increase_in_your_social_welfare_payment_for_an_adult_dependant.html


  • #3
    Genkhis
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3 ✭Genkhis


    Balagan, thanks for responding. However, my question is more about what represents ownership. I put the savings in joint names to make it easier for my wife should I die. I didn't intend to transfer ownership to her.


  • #4
    eddiehen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 155 ✭✭eddiehen


    Genkhis wrote: »
    Balagan, thanks for responding. However, my question is more about what represents ownership. I put the savings in joint names to make it easier for my wife should I die. I didn't intend to transfer ownership to her.

    The section in bold in Balagan's post is trying to point out how the SW assess savings held jointly. By putting her name on the account, half of the amount in the account is assessable for the means assessment purposes.


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