HELP PLS! Forgetting to tell council tax benefit people, more than once

bundance

Last year I forgot to tell the council tax about a change in income a few times. I suffer from aggitated depression as diagnosed by psychiatrist, and I get absent minded with paper work.
I phoned and they adjusted my council tax benefit.

Late last year I got a tax rebate of over a thousand pounds in 3 cheques. I threw the cheque stubs out and forgot to tell the council tax benefits people again. Is it as simple as just phoning them up and admitting another mistake, or will they prosecute as its not my first.

thanks

seven-day-weekend

I can't remember what you said on the other thread - does this money take you over £6k in savings?

SuziQ

You have asked this question before,and the more you put off telling the Council about this,the more you are going to work yourself up into a frenzy of anxiety. You phoned before,explained and they adjusted your benefit. I expect it may be the same this time,but noone on here can tell you for sure what will happen: just take a deep breath, pick up the phone and tell them-you have a documented mental health problem so I would imagine they will understand. Until you phone you won't know-once you have phoned,you can stop worrying!

seven-day-weekend

Good advice from Suzi Q - pick up thay phone now!

leemack

I think tax rebates from the tax office count as savings not income. If they don't take your savings above £6000 then don't worry. If the tax rebate is part of your wages then you need to provide the pay slips to the LA.

fluffymovie

Rebates for under 60's are used as capital but if I remember rightly, they did put you over the £6000 limit and so your Council Tax benefit will be wrong.

I work in benefits and I am aware that people can find it very intimidating to come and see us when they realise they have done something wrong.

From what you have said about the issues you face, it is unlikely that the council will want to take it further but if you are worried, go and ask the CAB if they will write a letter with you detailing the problem with the capital and asking for a re-assessment. In some cases, the CAB advisor may call the council with you there.

As it would seem that you really find it difficult (apologies for the assumption) to manage to tell the Ctax benefit department of the changes that occur, then ask if they review claims and suggest that they review you every year. Most LA's should be reviewing claims anyway but it depends on what risk they feel you present in terms of having changes. In the area I work in, we have support workers who can visit you at home and assist with welfare benefits so ask the CAB if they know of anyone.

Overpayments are a common issue with benefits but unless they believe you have tried to commit an offence, most LA's won't take it further. It doesn't look good in the press if they prosecute everyone who has mental health issues.

bundance

I've been in bed all day today as I sleep poor(nothing to do with this issue).
The main thing that worried me, was that it isn't my first time in forgetting to notify the council tax.
They readjusted my benefit the last times, with no problems.
I was just concerned that they would not believe this one was a mistake as I have made similar mistakes before.

If it put my savings over the £6000 limit, it wont be by much. Probably £500 - £1000 at the most.

If I phone up and self disclose, and offer to take in/post my bank statements, do you think they will be ok with it?

Although there may be an overpayment, it wont be enough to prosecute, am I right?

thank you

dmg24

Yes, you will be fine bundance.

Have you asked your CPN if they can call on your behalf?

bundance

No, I haven't.
I didn't think it would be so serious.

I am only worried, because this is not my first mistake.

dmg24

Try not to worry. Your CPN is there to help with things like this. Contact them in the morning.

bundance

dmg24 wrote: »

Try not to worry. Your CPN is there to help with things like this. Contact them in the morning.

Can I be sure that making more than one mistake like this is not going to be a problem, I would have no worries in contacting them myself.

Unable to contact care workers till tuesday.

Thanks