Some questions r.e. benefits and pension pot — Scope | Disability forum
If we become concerned about you or anyone else while using one of our services, we will act in line with our safeguarding policy and procedures. This may involve sharing this information with relevant authorities to ensure we comply with our policies and legal obligations.

Find out how to let us know if you're concerned about another member's safety.
Please read our updated community house rules and community guidelines.

Some questions r.e. benefits and pension pot

66Mustang
66Mustang Community member Posts: 13,368 Disability Gamechanger
Does a SIPP (self invested personal pension) count as savings when calculating ESA?

(A SIPP is a pension and is not accessible until age 55 (will be 57 soon).)

This is currently just an idea we are considering, but a family member wants me to start building up a private pension and wants to give me some money each year to put into it while I am not working.

1) If I have over £16,000 in the pension pot, will my benefits stop? I am currently 26 so the money is not accessible to me.
2) If a family member gives me a lump sum and I deposit it into a pension pot would this be seen as deprivation of capital or is it seen as acceptable to deposit it into a pension?

Many thanks in advance.

Comments

  • janer1967
    janer1967 Community member Posts: 21,964 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @66Mustang Sorry I am not too sure about pensions and ESA, I would only give the assumption that as it is a pension and not funds available to you it would count as savings as many people have a pension fund but still claim benefits.

    A gift may be seen differently though and would suggest the money is paid direct into the pension and not to you 

    I hope other members may have more knowledge of the question and can answer your query
  • 66Mustang
    66Mustang Community member Posts: 13,368 Disability Gamechanger
    Thanks @janer1967  that all makes perfect sense.
  • janer1967
    janer1967 Community member Posts: 21,964 Disability Gamechanger
    Sorry it should have said would not count as savings until it is paid out to you 
  • woodbine
    woodbine Community member Posts: 11,521 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @66Mustang, as @janer1967 says a pension investment does not count as capital for benefits purposes and as for a relative making contributions for you then I suspect the pension provider might not accept third party payments due to the tax breaks on pension investments and in their eyes potential money laundering issues (not suggesting for one minute thats what you would be doing but they might see it that way), my only other observation would be that at 26 you have many potential years to build up a pension pot.
    2024 The year of the general election...the time for change is coming 💡

  • atlas47
    atlas47 Community member Posts: 238 Pioneering
    edited June 2020
    Hi @66Mustang

    It’s a relatively simple problem to overcome, though you will need to seek legal advice.

    Your relative needs to establish a Trust Fund, in your name, which allows £8k per annum to be paid in (tax free).

    The Trust Deed should establish a pension fund in your name, which is paid into the pension fund, via the Trust Deed.

    There after you have no Capital or Savings to declare to anyone.

    This pension fund, would be equivalent to you earning about £75k per annum. You could obtain more independent advice from a Notary.

    On the assumption that you are 26 years old (as stated on this thread), you should enjoy a healthy pension, down the line.


    Stay kind and be safe.
  • 66Mustang
    66Mustang Community member Posts: 13,368 Disability Gamechanger
    Many thanks everyone for the replies, they are all much appreciated.

    The reason I wanted to use a SIPP is that I have traded on the stock market in the past and we like the idea of me managing and choosing my own investments. I will however have a look into trust funds, thank you for the suggestion. Maybe there is a trust fund that then can be converted into a SIPP after a period of time or to coincide with when I start working. This is not a long term thing - they just want to help me out while I am not working, and it will stop once I am able to work. I hope to be working after, hopefully, not very many years, as I am due to start some intensive treatment soon that should take around 2 years.

    Thanks again everyone. :)
  • Adrian_Scope
    Adrian_Scope Posts: 10,821 Scope online community team
    Hello @66Mustang.
    With regards to your original questions:
    1) No, the money isn't counted as income or capital so even if you have more than £16,000 in your SIPP it won't affect your current benefits.
    2) Gifts that don't take your savings/capital over £6,000 don't need to be declared, so as long as the lump sum (combined with any money you already have) doesn't exceed £6,000 it shouldn't be a problem. There is a maximum you can pay into a SIPP while not working (I think it's £2880 a year) so keep that in mind if they are gifting you a larger amount. 
    Community Manager
    Scope
  • 66Mustang
    66Mustang Community member Posts: 13,368 Disability Gamechanger
    Thanks @Adrian_Scope, that helps a lot :)
  • 66Mustang
    66Mustang Community member Posts: 13,368 Disability Gamechanger
    Just had a look and the limit to receive 20% tax relief is now £3,600 while not working. That is approximately how much my family member wanted to put in there for me each year so that works out really nicely.

    https://www.hl.co.uk/pensions/contributions

    Thanks again :)

Brightness

Complete our feedback form and tell us how we can make the community better.

Do you need advice on your energy costs?


Scope’s Disability Energy Support service is open to any disabled household in England or Wales in which one or more disabled people live. You can get free advice from an expert adviser on managing energy debt, switching tariffs, contacting your supplier and more. Find out more information by visiting our
Disability Energy Support webpage.