Can anyone advise....

willing2learn_3

Hi there

I've met a bit of a challenge despite handling my finances well over the past year. I am on a very low income (but just not low enough to get working tax credits) but i've handled it well by cutting out most things that people take for granted (eg no TV, no licence, no telephone at the house, no mobile credit just text credit, etc).

I've run into a problem because i recently changed my hours at work slightly. I informed the council of this and suddenly i got a letter saying that i owed them 400. I called them and they said they would still pay me housing benefit but that they have to take from this £40 a month because they've overpaid me. It turns out that somehow they overlooked a bonus that i get at wor, usually on a yearly basis (but not guaranteed). I was completely transparent about this bonus so i am not sure how it was overlooked. (if you are wondering what i've done with the bonus, it wasn't much and has been used on day to day living expenses, although i did lend £250 to someone who really needed it and who cannot pay it back yet)

In any case they have agreed that on paper it's been clear that i was open about it so they are just taking money from me gradually as i've described.

However.....they have said i could apply for a discretionary housing payment as i was worried because i have a £235 electric bill coming up.

I'm not for taking money from the public funds but this situation occured despite me being totally honest and i do work full time.

My worry is that i have to pay the rent this week. I have the money to pay the rent but not money for the electric bill as well. I'm thinking that if i pay the rent they won't be able to help me out since the electric bill is not their concern.....

Anyone have any experience of this? Should i pay off the electric rather than the rent just so i am proving that i cannot pay the rent.......or will they understand the situation?

thanks for listening

McKneff

I cant help you im afraid, i just wanted to applaud you for what you said '
i'm not for taking money from the public funds' was music to my ears. There are so many people out there who take money from the public funds without a second thought. i wish i could help, but i can only go as far as wishing you well (and/or winning the lottery)

willing2learn_3

Thanks Annie

I've only been on housing benefit for about a year. I've always been in well paid work but circumstances stopped that for a time (relationship break up, moving, etc) and now i'm doing everything i can to get promotion in a new job and then i won't need housing benefit again....

I'm happy for people to receive benefits if they need it. Life is hard and unfair. It does annoy me though when i struggle to do everything right and i am still sat there at night with a calculator.....(and no TV and little heat!) trying to work out how to get through the month. and when i can't even find the time to look for a new partner or do the unpaid 'homework' that we all need to do to try and get promotion at work.....

ok rant over.

McKneff

hope your rant made yu feel better, i hve a spare telly but your probably hundreds of miles away lol = good luck

[Deleted User]

Personally i`d pay the rent and speak to the company that supplies your electricity,£235 seems an awful lot for a bill that covers the summer months(ok it was wet but it wasnt that cold)they may allow you to pay the bill off in installments rather than cut you off,its always better if you approach them rather than waiting for them to approach you

Dreamnine

Yes, speak with your utility company- they should be able to work out an easier payment scheme. Shouldn't be a problem if you're as honest with them as you have been on here. Good luck.

nottslass_2

Hi willing2learn,
You can appeal against the overpayment ,on the basis that it occurred because of "official error" (you gave them all the information in regard to income etc) Write to the council stating that you believe the over payment arose due to official error and because you could not reasonably be expected to have known this (due to the complicated way HB is calculated)the over payment is not repayable.


Hope this helps and good luck X

willing2learn_3

woodbine wrote: »

Personally i`d pay the rent and speak to the company that supplies your electricity,£235 seems an awful lot for a bill that covers the summer months(ok it was wet but it wasnt that cold)they may allow you to pay the bill off in installments rather than cut you off,its always better if you approach them rather than waiting for them to approach you

Thanks Woodbine

I think about £50 of that bill was overlooked by me by accident from the bill before. I'd had a go at paying £100 online (i don't usually do it that way) and then just forgot about the other £50....

but £180 still high? I thought that actually....I know i'm using an emersion heater for my water, but i only use it for about 15 mins per day. I use a small bathroom heater for a hairdryer - since mine blew up! lol! They wouldn't create such a high bill though would they?

willing2learn_3

anniehanlon wrote: »

hope your rant made yu feel better, i hve a spare telly but your probably hundreds of miles away lol = good luck

I have a telly but i've decided not to use it and not to pay the licence. (and for those wondering, no i don't watch the tv, i'm no fool i don't wish to be caught out or have a tv unfairly). I found that really easy in the summer because of the light evenings.....harder now, but i've always got stuff to read - and i am a reader......i miss the computer more.

Thanks anyway!

willing2learn_3

Dreamnine wrote: »

Yes, speak with your utility company- they should be able to work out an easier payment scheme. Shouldn't be a problem if you're as honest with them as you have been on here. Good luck.

Thanks Dreamnine

Yes i will speak to them.

healy

willing2learn wrote: »

Thanks Woodbine

I think about £50 of that bill was overlooked by me by accident from the bill before. I'd had a go at paying £100 online (i don't usually do it that way) and then just forgot about the other £50....

but £180 still high? I thought that actually....I know i'm using an emersion heater for my water, but i only use it for about 15 mins per day. I use a small bathroom heater for a hairdryer - since mine blew up! lol! They wouldn't create such a high bill though would they?

There could be the cost of electricity for cooking assuming you cook and use electricity for it!