Housing benefit & council tax benefit officer wants to visit us at home ???

shjo558

Birdbrain wrote: »

I just received one of these letters and now I'm frantic with worry.

I am on incapcity benefit for anxiety and depression, and recently did 3 months permitted work (therapeutic earnings) My last payment was at the end of April. At the time I submitted a PW1 Permitted work form. I did not realise until I made some enquiries about the upcoming visit that I should have notified the housing benefit people of this, separate of the PW1, I thought all the benefits people shared this information.

Now I very much afraid that I will have to pay back 3 months housing and council tax, which I can't possibly do, or worse that I will be prosecuted for benefit fraud.

If anyone has any insight, I would greatly appreciate it.

Hi,

Your earnings will reduce you're Housing and Benefit entitlement although I would imagine that you would still be entitled at a reduced rate as they do disregard some of the earnings (£25 off the top of my head for disabled people but don't quote me on that;)). If you tell them now, they won't prosecute as it wasn't that long ago and you can explain it was an oversight. However, if you don't tell them, they will find out from National Insurance and Tax records as they are shared with Councils. It might not be for a while but it will happen and would look more like genuine fraud.

If you have been paid too much, they will deduct £9.00 off your benefit each week which is used to pay back the extra you received when you were working. However, if £9.00 leaves you too short, you can ask for that to be reduced to an amount that suits you.

Birdbrain_2

Thanks for your help