Sure Start Grant and LHA

karenx

Is the SSG taken into account as income when working out LHA for that month?
Reason I ask is I got a letter asking for bank statements, payslips etc to make sure my LHA award is still upto date and correct. Then recieved a reply saying for 1 particular month I was over the amount for recieving LHA so I now owe them money back. I was a little confused as everything has always been the same apart from when my second child was born. So I looked up my bank statements for the month and it was when I recieved my SSG and HIP grant. I thought these wernt taken into account for LHA as they are grants? So I have to pay them back £300 for that month, so out of the 2 grants Im only left with £390. Dont think thats right!
Have tried calling them but was held in a que for 30mins so gave up! I emailed them but you need to wait upto 10days for a reply so thought I would ask here!
Thanks

Toomuchdebt

Did you make it clear what the money was?If it doesn't say on the statement they will just assume it was extra income.I'm pretty sure it's not counted as income for LHA.

karenx

For my SSG the reference says my nat insurance number then DWP SF and my HIP says HMRC HIPGPREGNANCY. So going by that I would of assumed they knew what that was?
Will try rining again later or first thing in morning and make sure!

daimonde

just want to make sure im not at crossed purposes...a sure start maternity grant ?

they shouldnt have an effect on any benefits as per dwp website. on HB guidance too, it states any social fund payment should be disregarded & a ssmg is still treated as a social fund payment.

but, if they didnt know what it was, i can see why it would be treated as income. id like to think most would question it rather than just use it as income mind you. not seen one for a while, but id expect it to show on any bank statements as ssmg / sf or with a national insurance number, which are a big hint its a dwp payment.

if you can, id suggest calling into a local office, with the bank statements & any award notices too, you need to make it as obvious as possible what it is !

...................just seen your reply, yeh they should have known by that really & yeh the ssg should be disregarded, dont know about the hips thingy tho !

Dave.

karenx

Yes its the sure start grant! Thanks for that, bit tricky getting to the local office for about a week so will keep trying to call for now and see how I get on!

kartoffelpuffer

I also read that any award from the social scheme should not be classified as income.

May I ask a question Karen x? How did the council know that you were paid these amounts? Do they check your bank account or did you take/post statements into them?

karenx

Like I said I got asked for upto date payslips etc to check I was still getting the right amount. And the 3 months previous included the 2 grants I got for being pregnant.

kartoffelpuffer

Sorry - don't know why I didn't read that bit. Brain must have taken a holiday.