I'm pretty sure Kylie is right. You could also be "gifted" money and not have to declare it until it generates extra income. My Dad and stepmum are quite generous at Christmas... one year their cheque would have pushed us over the threshold of one of the payments... but we didn't have to declare according to an accountant. We use the money to pay for school fees basically anyhow... it's not like we are living in luxury because of it.