Housing benefit and access to bank accounts

downshifter

Dear all, I have an interview next week to apply for housing benefits, first time ever. They have asked for ID and payslips and also my bank account details. I thought I'd need to take in bank statements which I'd rather do to prove things but apparently they don't want those if savings are under £16k. Are they able to access my accounts without my permission?

I'd much rather take statements along and explain items on there, than have them view them without me being there and assume that income on them is stuff I haven't declared to them (like my kids repaying money I've loaned them). But I don't understand why they would just take my word about my income/savings etc so I'm sure they would need to see bank accounts or some sort of proof.

So would they be able to see my statements without me being there? Surely they wouldn't just take my word about my money. Thanks

DS

karenx

They can check if they think someone is lying about how much they have.
If you are getting regular money then you would need to declare this as income I would of thought?

cabbage

Hi

I think only Inland Revenue and CSA can have access to your bank account without your approval.

Perhaps they will ask for statements as part of the application process.

downshifter

cabbage wrote: »

Hi

I think only Inland Revenue and CSA can have access to your bank account without your approval.

Perhaps they will ask for statements as part of the application process.

Thanks very much, that's interesting information. No they've told me I don't need to show them any statements, just ID, rental agreement, payslips and a list of accounts with current totals and acc. numbers. As I said, I don't mind them looking at my statements at all, - anyone can for all I care - I have nothing to hide, I suppose I just find it difficult that they wouldn't want proof of every little thing. Never having claimed any sorts of benefits before, (and I feel really awkward doing it) yet having read the tabloids !!! - I thought everything I said would be assumed to be untrue without any proof.

I think I might take them to the interview anyway.

Thanks again

DS

alwaysonthego_2

The DWP and LA can and do access bank accounts if they want to without gaining permission of the account holder

dmg24

You need to declare capital over £5,500. Anything over £6,000 is applied as tariff income (£1 income per £250), with capital over £16,000 disqualifying you from any entitlement.

downshifter

dmg24 wrote: »

You need to declare capital over £5,500. Anything over £6,000 is applied as tariff income (£1 income per £250), with capital over £16,000 disqualifying you from any entitlement.

Thanks. My combined savings accounts comes to £700, which I will need for tax end January, so not an issue. But why would they believe me? I could say anything, that's why I asked if they are able to access my account to check.

Thanks

DS

dmg24

downshifter wrote: »

Thanks. My combined savings accounts comes to £700, which I will need for tax end January, so not an issue. But why would they believe me? I could say anything, that's why I asked if they are able to access my account to check.

Thanks

DS

Worst case scenario is that they will ask you to produce a paper/ audit trail of anything that appears to be income. So if you have payments from your children, you may need to show when you lent them the money. TBH most LA's are so busy at the mo they will just be satisfied that you are within the capital limits.

downshifter

dmg24 wrote: »

Worst case scenario is that they will ask you to produce a paper/ audit trail of anything that appears to be income. So if you have payments from your children, you may need to show when you lent them the money. TBH most LA's are so busy at the mo they will just be satisfied that you are within the capital limits.

Well that's easy enough to prove. Thank you, you've put my mind at rest. With so much talk of benefit fraud I don't understand why they're not checking every single thing. Still, I'll take all my statements in anyway, just incase.

Thanks again dmg24

real1314

alwaysonthego wrote: »

The DWP and LA can and do access bank accounts if they want to without gaining permission of the account holder

They can't "access" bank accounts in the sense of any sort of electronic method, but they can obtain details of accounts held via HMRC, and from there they can then obtain info from the bank if they have cause to do so. Afaik.

NEH

For our council tax and possible housing benefit forms we had to provide 2 months worth of bank statements, lease, 2 forms of ID, my disability benefit, prove of NI, and any other income....We took our documents down to the local council office you should have seen the poor girls face when we walked in...It took us a while to assemble all the paperwork, not helped by the postal strike....

When I applied for council tax once before they asked for bank statements so I would have thought it was standard...

I would take them in case they decide they do need them....