Can the council request your bank statements for past 6months (discretionary housing)

MissSexyBum

HappyMJ wrote: »

If you answered all the questions truthfully then the DHP should not have been granted in the first place. Do you remember the question "Do you receive any other money from any source for example family or friends?" I'd say you answered no.

I only receive normal housing benefit and although I pay more rent than I receive in housing benefit

Nope, i dont recieve cash from my family ever actually.
So i did answer it honestly.

And how old are you?? :rolleyes:

dmg24

MissSexyBum wrote: »

Nope, i dont recieve cash from my family ever actually.
So i did answer it honestly.

And how old are you?? :rolleyes:

You said that they help you out financially? This needs to be declared to your LA and the DWP, as it may count as income.

HopeAndDriftWood

Yeah, not declaring income is a big issue when on JSA.
Whether you were entitled to it or not is irrelevant, the money for 'expensive Christmas presents' should have gone towards making up the extra rent, if you are claiming extra discretionary payments for that.
If you get additional money from your parents, do the DWP know about that? If they don't, when they find out they may ask for a back payment because it needs to be included in your total income.

Anything you earn needs to be declared, so that you don't face yourself with a huge request for a backpayment. Once you are declaring everything, they'll be able to tell if you if you qualify for discretionary help. If you don't, you'll have to do what the rest of us do and find somewhere cheaper

Happy MJ - Advising people to draw money out at a cash point if they don't want the DWP to see where they spent is is underhand...and they will question withdrawals, and ask for proof for large amounts.

DX2

MissSexyBum wrote: »

And yes luckily my parents do help me out financially thanks,
thats the only way i can afford to live with only getting £150 jsa externally.

MissSexyBum wrote: »

Nope, i dont recieve cash from my family ever actually.
So i did answer it honestly.

And how old are you?? :rolleyes:

Which quote is the truth and which one is a lie :rolleyes:

MissSexyBum

dmg24 wrote: »

You said that they help you out financially?

They help me out by letting me stay round the family house a few days/weeks per month as they live close by me,
and so that saves me lots money on electricity and on food,
as naturally while im there im a guest and so they provide me with all food, pay their own bills for that house... ect

They dont actually put cash into my hand or anything like that though,
just help me out 'financially' by helping me to 'save the money that i get'.

And last time i checked there's nothing illegal about saving as much of your JSA money as you possibly can by being resourceful and getting things for free.

dmg24

MissSexyBum wrote: »

They help me out by letting me stay round the family house a few days/weeks per month as they live close by me,
and so that saves me lots money on electricity and on food,
as naturally while im there im a guest and so they provide me with all food, pay their own bills for that house... ect

They dont actually put cash into my hand or anything like that though,
just help me out 'financially' by helping me to 'save the money that i get'.

And last time i checked there's nothing illegal about saving as much of your JSA money as you possibly can by being resourceful and getting things for free.

It gets worse! If you are staying at your parents a few weeks per month you need to declare this, as the council need to decide where your main residence is.

How long do you have left on your lease? Why not just move back home until you can afford to live independently?

HappyMJ

SaucySecrets wrote: »

Happy MJ - Advising people to draw money out at a cash point if they don't want the DWP to see where they spent is is underhand...and they will question withdrawals, and ask for proof for large amounts.

Apologies, I didn't mean large amounts I meant lets say £20 on a restaurant meal for two. Yes JSA can be spent on anything but any moneysaver would say that as i'm not working i've got plenty of time to purchase ingredients and make a meal at home.

If I was in the council I would have mentioned all the gambling transactions on my own statemement but they said nothing.

MissSexy I'm 35 and claiming £128.60 fortnightly contributions based JSA and £182.30 Housing Benefit (rent is £250). I also dig into my savings at a rate of about £200 per fortnight. I have about 6 months worth of savings at this rate. When I do work I earn about £600 per week and contribute back into my savings at the same rate. I thought it was known as budgeting? I know it is difficult and I am looking as hard as I can to find a new job as I'm sure you are too.

Merry Xmas...

MissSexyBum

dmg24 wrote: »

It gets worse! If you are staying at your parents a few weeks per month you need to declare this, as the council need to decide where your main residence is.

How long do you have left on your lease? Why not just move back home until you can afford to live independently?

My main home is my flat.

I visit my family (as a guest) for 3-4days per week, and the return home to my flat for the other 3-4days.

MissSexyBum

HappyMJ wrote: »

I only receive normal housing benefit

HappyMJ wrote: »

MissSexy I'm 35 and claiming £128.60 fortnightly contributions based JSA and £182.30 Housing Benefit (rent is £250).

:rolleyes:

Ok,
now imagine they said that from next week you will only get 1/2 that rate of housing benefit,
and they will cut 1/3 off your jsa.

How easy would you then find it to pay your rent when you only get half the 'normal rate'??

Since for people like me who are under 25 we have the same living costs that any single over 25year old has,
but for us we only get 1/2 the rate of your (the) ''normal standard'' hb amount.

dmg24

MissSexyBum wrote: »

My main home is my flat.

I visit my family (as a guest) for 3-4days per week, and the return home to my flat for the other 3-4days.

It is up to the relevant authorities to decide what they deem to be your main residence, not you. You need to declare your living situation to the LA and the DWP.

How long do you have left on your lease? What do you intend to do if they stop your DHP?