HB - where have I gone wrong and what to do?

phoenix11_2

Hi
I lost my job last year (mid May) and didn't apply for benefits soon enough and so missed out on HB for over a month. This put me behind with my rent by a month which I've never been able to catch up with.

I got a contract job mid August which finished end Feb and I didn't have another job to start afterwards.

On Monday 2 March, I phoned JS and they also took my details for HB & CT claims saying that they were doing it this way as it was fast tracking.

I had my 'interview' at JS on 4 March and signed on a week later.

I phoned HB a week after to ask about my claim and they said that JS hadn't submitted my claim until 5 Mar (so I've now lost a whole week's rent being paid!) and they were taking 4 weeks to begin to process any claims.

They sent a letter asking for more info which I supplied at the beginning of this week and I also let them know I'd started another job on 24 March.

I feel I'm being punished as they've sent another demand for information I can't give - eg first 5 week's salary slips which means they won't even consider paying me for another 5 weeks??? And how can it help for me to claim HB for when I was unemployed by giving them wages slips for when I am not claiming??

I had also paid the CT up to the end of 2008/2009 - will I get a rebate at all for the time I was unemployed and on JSA?

I don't understand any of this and it's very distressing. I live alone (1 bed house) and have absolutely no other support or anyone to turn to - just a load of huge debts.

Where have I gone wrong? I'm beginning to seriously regret taking the job as it's a very long journey by bus to get to, expensive and physically very painful (arthritis etc).

Is there anything I can do about not getting HB for the first week?

And although my landlord has been really good, this will be the last straw - what do I do?

What happens if he has to evict me - I now owe 2 months' rent with no way of paying anything. Where do I go?

I have no savings - have been trying to sell stuff to pay fuel debts with not much success.

I've done all the checks and I seem to fall between all the cracks and qualify for no help at all as I don't have any dependents and I'm not yet over 60.

I also have a crisis loan to pay back and my temp wages are only just enough to keep going, without paying back any 'soft' debts.

I can't afford to declare bankrupt even if I wanted to - it's just a nightmare - I really would be better off in some ways if I wasn't employed. Trying to do the right thing, take care of myself and keep going is not working.

Is there anything I can do to start benefitting instead of continuous struggling in a sloughfilled quagmire???

PhlangePhace

phoenix11 wrote: »

.......

On Monday 2 March, I phoned JS and they also took my details for HB & CT claims saying that they were doing it this way as it was fast tracking.

I had my 'interview' at JS on 4 March and signed on a week later.

I phoned HB a week after to ask about my claim and they said that JS hadn't submitted my claim until 5 Mar (so I've now lost a whole week's rent being paid!) ....

Whether you had submitted a claim for HB on 2nd March or 5th March is neither here nor there as HB wouldn't commence until following monday (9th) anyway.

They sent a letter asking for more info which I supplied at the beginning of this week and I also let them know I'd started another job on 24 March.

I feel I'm being punished as they've sent another demand for information I can't give - eg first 5 week's salary slips which means they won't even consider paying me for another 5 weeks???

This may be a standard letter....it isn't necessarily reasonable to expect you to have 5 wks wageslips so soon after starting work so a letter from employer confimring expected weekly wage/deductions/hrs of employment etc, and maybe your first wageslip should suffice

...... And how can it help for me to claim HB for when I was unemployed by giving them wages slips for when I am not claiming??

If you mean to say you only want HB to be assessed for the time you were on JSA then tell them to cancel your claim in line with JSA end date.
They are merely 'pending' your claim awaiting further info to continue it.

Just tell them you don't require claim to continue whilst you are working (presumably as you don't expect to be entitled with your new income)

I had also paid the CT up to the end of 2008/2009 - will I get a rebate at all for the time I was unemployed and on JSA?

If there is a credit on your CT account due to CTB being paid for a period that you've already paid yourself, the credit will likely be taken as part payment for this years bill, but if you were to explain your circumstances and request a refund of that sum, they may oblige....but as I say, if its in the region of £30 -£40 thay'll likely just use it against 2009/20 bill.

......Is there anything I can do about not getting HB for the first week?

You'll get it at the end of your claim, effectively.
As pointed out above, the HB entitlement starts the Monday following the date of claim, but likewise it will end the sunday following your last day of JSA.

Hope I've been of some help.

phoenix11_2

Hi PhlangePhace

Whether you had submitted a claim for HB on 2nd March or 5th March is neither here nor there as HB wouldn't commence until following monday (9th) anyway.

So, if I'd gone over to the Benefits Office first thing on Monday with all my paperwork and signed the documents, they still would not have paid the first week's rent??????

That means that people end up owing their landlords that rent which, if they're on other benefits such as JSA they can never repay??

That's really dreadful!!

If you mean to say you only want HB to be assessed for the time you were on JSA then tell them to cancel your claim in line with JSA end date.

OK - thanks for that - I don't know why they don't understand that because I clearly stated it in my letter - but....................

If there is a credit on your CT account due to CTB being paid for a period that you've already paid yourself, the credit will likely be taken as part payment for this years bill,...

Oh that would be fine - it's all got to be paid anyway - I'll ask them if they will do that.


Thank you, so much - I don't do this stress business very well at all - and it's not easy to find out information from Govt type bodies - they only give you as little as they can get away with.

Having a place to come and let off steam or do a bit of headless chicken running is a bit of a relief.

Thank you, once again.

Oldernotwiser

phoenix11 wrote: »

So, if I'd gone over to the Benefits Office first thing on Monday with all my paperwork and signed the documents, they still would not have paid the first week's rent??????

I imagine the thinking is that you'd pay for that week's rent with the wages you got on Friday.

phoenix11_2

Oldernotwiser - and of course, they don't take all the other payments you're obligated to pay either. I paid the council tax because they'd rejigged my payments from last year so I ended up with paying right up until the end of the year - and I didn't want to get caught out again as I had before - so that was one large chunk.

Then there's basic living because I didn't get any JSA payment until 18 March because they were behind with everything.

It's all a bit of a nightmare really - some people seem to manage it so much better.

I'm sure I still don't get as much as I might be entitled to - I'd rather be earning a good salary and getting myself back into living a half way decent life anyway - but it seems as if those people who do keep going with work on and off, are worse off than if they just didn't work for a while!!

Voyager2002

phoenix11 wrote: »

it seems as if those people who do keep going with work on and off, are worse off than if they just didn't work for a while!!

Yes, I'm afraid you are right.

PhlangePhace

phoenix11 wrote: »

So, if I'd gone over to the Benefits Office first thing on Monday with all my paperwork and signed the documents, they still would not have paid the first week's rent??????

That means that people end up owing their landlords that rent which, if they're on other benefits such as JSA they can never repay??

Seems unfair I suppose, but there needs to be a 'cut-off', if you see what I mean.
All claims and changes kick in from the following monday.
If you signed off JSA say 23rd March as you started work 24th.....you will be entitled to HB upto sunday 29th.......so it all balances out in the end.

OK - thanks for that - I don't know why they don't understand that because I clearly stated it in my letter - but....................

It's swings and roundabouts....there are occasions when I've been 'asked' to cancel a claim as claimant is starting work but when I've looked at what the claimant actually stated it is clear that they still wish to continue the claim (although with reduced entitlement) as maybe their employment is P/T or generally low paid.

I personally tend to suspend the claim and request further info rather than cancel straight off, unless I'm 100% sure the claimant is clear that they wish HB to cease. Especially if there is an indication that there might still be a chance of a small continued entitlement.

Oh that would be fine - it's all got to be paid anyway - I'll ask them if they will do that.

Shouldn't need to ask, I wouldn't have thought.....it should happen automatically (depends on your particular councils systems I guess).
My council, for instance will only tend to refund if a refund is requested.....otherwise it will just keep the credit on the account against future liability.

Thank you, so much ...... and it's not easy to find out information from Govt type bodies .......

Well,....thats me......a Govt employee :T But yes, I understand where you're coming from.

It's a pleasure.