Financial assessment and verification of capital – to be checked even in passport benefit cases

In assessing your client’s capital, you should be aware this does not just include money in a bank account. It also includes:

  • All land and buildings owned by your client or their partner, apart from their main home, including interests in timeshares
  • Money in the bank, building society, post office, premium bonds, national savings certificates etc.
  • Shares, bonds, ISAs and other investments
  • Insurance policies that can be cashed in
  • The value of other non-essential possessions, such as a boat, caravan, second car, jewellery (but not wedding or engagement rings), antiques or items bought for investment
  • Money owed to your client or their partner
  • Money due from the will of someone who has died
  • Money due from a trust fund
  • Money that can be borrowed against business assets
  • A redundancy payment

To avoid later enquiry by us, you should not be satisfied simply by the production of a bank statement. You should check if your client has:

  • Any other accounts
  • Any savings or investments accounts

If they do, you should see evidence of this and indicate that you have seen verification of capital by way of this declaration. All documentary verification must be retained on file.

Client claims no capital

In circumstances where the client has declared they have no capital, the declaration form must be signed in compliance with the guidance.     

 

Determination of disposable capital and disposable income
Financial assessment and verification of income

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