Housing benefit query

rkh001

We applied for housing benefi from1st May to 12th June (when I got a job). The council have wanted a lot of evidence of of bank statments etc, which we have given to them.
They then wanted copies of my payslips (why? as we are not caliming anything from 12th June onwards), copies of my £100 of premium bonds, etc. We have no savings.
Now they have sent a letter to say that the want the new tenancy agreement (origianlly it was for 3 motnhs only), copies of my credit card statements (as there is money going out of my account every month to pay them).
The letter they have written is very rude and almost accusatory like I am sitting on millions and trying to claim 2 months of backdated rent!
I feel really angry but now I want want my documentation back from them... they ahve copies of passports, NI payslips, bank statments etc. I can't be asked to chase them on this for months on end.
two questions if someone can help:
1) why do they want current tenency agreement plus all the current bank statments, credit card stats etc as we are only claiming for back rent?
2) if I want to get all my documentaion back from them, is there any Data Protection Act reference I can use to get it back?
I don't all want all my details found in the streets..
thanks.

Conor_3

1) It can provide proof of hiding funds.
2) You can only get the originals back. You cannot use the DPA to get copies back, only a copy of what they have on you to a limit.

Anthillmob

copies of credot card statements??? i can only assume they have asked for these as proof of your outgoings from the bank as the deem these payments excessive? i certainly have never asked for credit card statements as a rule we never bother with these.

current TA, if the end date on the one you provided ended 'mid claim' they have to see you still have a rental liability.

the letter you got was probably a pre-set out letter where we just fill in the blanks.

you got your originals back. by all means you can request whats on your file but youll only get back copies of the copies they took. we have to keep the scanned images and the docs for years as LAs are heavily audited and we need to have an audit trail.