Home visit regarding housing benefit

debtfreeandlovingit_2

Hello,

I have received a letter informing me that the Visiting Office from the Housing Benefit will be coming to see at home next week and am unsure why.

I have been at tmy current address for 3-4 months (sharing with one other) and have been awarded a small amount of HB since then (only about 1/3 of my rent) but as far as I know my circumstances haven't changed. They asked me to have ready bank statements, rent details, pension details, evidence of any stocks, etc. I am self-employed and probably working the equivalent of less than 2 days a week, hence why I applied for HB. I gave an estimated annual income based on that of the previous year when I applied and nothnig has changed considerably since.

Anyone have any idea why I am to be visited as I am starting to worry, although I haven't done anything wrong as far as I know.

Thanks

Rikki

There was a thread about this a while ago. If I remember it was to cut out the problems people were having completing the forms.

I'll have a look for it.

Rikki

Housing benefit home visits

scatz

Think they are just trying to cut down on benefit fraud ! You're lucky you had a letter informing you of their visit....a couple of weeks ago I had just gone to bed (I'm a postie) when the doorbell went, it was one of the HB Officers who went through the whole rigmarole of taking my details and proof of income etc.

I had had no prior warning of this visit and was rather annoyed :mad: , to say the least.

Anyway, I doubt you have anything to worry about.

debtfreeandlovingit_2

Thanks very much Rikki and scatz for your replies. That has helped to put my mind at rest! Have a good weekend.

scatz

You to.....

Rikki

debtfreeandlovingit wrote:

Thanks very much Rikki and scatz for your replies. That has helped to put my mind at rest! Have a good weekend.

Glad we could help.:)

Turning_into_scrooge

debtfreeandlovingit wrote:

Hello,

I have received a letter informing me that the Visiting Office from the Housing Benefit will be coming to see at home next week and am unsure why.

I have been at tmy current address for 3-4 months (sharing with one other) and have been awarded a small amount of HB since then (only about 1/3 of my rent) but as far as I know my circumstances haven't changed. They asked me to have ready bank statements, rent details, pension details, evidence of any stocks, etc. I am self-employed and probably working the equivalent of less than 2 days a week, hence why I applied for HB. I gave an estimated annual income based on that of the previous year when I applied and nothnig has changed considerably since.

Anyone have any idea why I am to be visited as I am starting to worry, although I haven't done anything wrong as far as I know.

Thanks

There has been a spate of tenants claiming housing benefit and then sub letting the property for full rent to make money out of the benefits system. A friend had this check recently and this was the reason they gave for the visit, its to make sure you are living there.

Chrysalis

Also it may just be a rent officer, they have to examine the property at least once during a claim.

mad-mum_3

Most local authorities incorporate home visits as part of their verification of housing benefit claims so this is a perfectly normal thing to happen. This allows them to confimr that the claimant is actually at the address and they can verify the claim details again with you. As long as your circumstances have not changed then there should be nothing to worry about.