HB overpayment write off if pregnant??

Oldernotwiser

Jowo wrote: »

Ah, well, the UKs loss is Australia's gain...

Although it's strange that you can't go now with a criminal record, when it used to be obligatory!:D

originalacidman

OK it seems that most people just want to voice their unwanted opinions and not offer any actual assistance.
To the few that have tried to help thanks. I must say it seems ridiculous and frustrating but if it means that the council have to send me the £750 underpayment and I can add that to the £250 that is owed on the overpayment and I can get this resolved then so be it.

To those that want to get personal over my financial problems... hope you can sit proudly on your high horse as obviously I am inferior to you and am not worthy.

[Deleted User]

originalacidman wrote: »

Good grief Viktory, I dont see what point you are making??

I dont think that a debt of approx £250 is a major issue for them. If they had simply written to us prior to threatening legal action I would have been happy to pay, as this is not the case than I am seeing if it may be possible to play them at the game and try to get it 'written off'. If thats not the case then £1 a week should do them.

Thanks to those who have made genuine helpful comments

I suspect they would have tried to make contact before passing the debt over to collection agency(if thats where its ended up)or solicitor.
They wont accept £1 a week unless as a couple you are on minimum benefits,if they wrote off every £250 bill we`d be in a bigger mess than we are already.
Pay up and stop whining

originalacidman

They said that they send a letter out, but it was sent to our old address and I never recieved it as we had to quickly leave the property due to losing our jobs, even though I rang to update them of this for the council tax overpayment that I was paying. The council seems a mess and is not organised and it frustates me that they can act in this bullying manner.

I will pay them and my initial enquiry was to see if there was anyway I could get away with not paying it, as I am fed up with their instant neverending demands. If they gave people a chance to get some earnings in first, then it would be easier to clear the debts off in one off payments, rather than dragged out installments.

As my partner doesnt work, is recieving no benefits and is due to pop any week now, I feel that the financial figures can portray a minimal amount free to cover debt payments and the £1 a week scenario is a possibility, have to wait and see though!

originalacidman

jenner: These are two separate accounts. There has been no HB fraud on our part and we had heard nothing prior to recieving the solicitors letter even though they had our new address and mobile numbers.

Caz3121

originalacidman wrote: »

jenner: These are two separate accounts. There has been no HB fraud on our part and we had heard nothing prior to recieving the solicitors letter even though they had our new address and mobile numbers.

were you living in shared accommodation when you turned 25

If yes then you actually are still only entitled to the shared rate so there will have been no underpayment
If in self contained then, yes, the new rate should have applied

originalacidman

Thanks Caz3121.

We both received the 1 bedroom shared facilities rate of £240 a month. As I am over 25, I believe it should have worked out that I would receive the 1 bedroom self contained rate of £460 a month and my partner would not be eligible for HB.

I think that I am right as it states:

“single claimants over 25 and couples with no dependant children will be entitled to the 1 bedroom self contained LHA rate, providing they have exclusive use of other facilities such as their own bathroom, toilet and kitchen/cooking facilities or exclusive use of at least two rooms (counting only bedrooms and living rooms)”

We were at that time living in a 3 bedroom flat with a bathroom, living room and kitchen so I assume that we should qualify for the higher rate?

Can anyone that knows more about the benefit entitlements confirm this for me please??

sysky

even if you re on benefits they will still want £9 or so a week might be more now as that was some time back from your benefits even if the overpayment was there fault (as I can not prove they lost the paperwork in my case)

Caz3121

originalacidman wrote: »

We both received the 1 bedroom shared facilities rate of £240 a month. As I am over 25, I believe it should have worked out that I would receive the 1 bedroom self contained rate of £460 a month and my partner would not be eligible for HB.

I think that I am right as it states:

“single claimants over 25 and couples with no dependant children will be entitled to the 1 bedroom self contained LHA rate, providing they have exclusive use of other facilities such as their own bathroom, toilet and kitchen/cooking facilities or exclusive use of at least two rooms (counting only bedrooms and living rooms)”

We were at that time living in a 3 bedroom flat with a bathroom, living room and kitchen so I assume that we should qualify for the higher rate?

Can anyone that knows more about the benefit entitlements confirm this for me please??

Were you both living in the same property but making separate claims rather than a joint claim?

Was there a third person in the property?


If you are part of a couple and do not live with any dependants, your benefit will be based on the one bedroom Local Housing Allowance rate if you live in:

• a self-contained property
• shared accommodation but have two or more rooms (bedrooms or living rooms) that no-one else can use

OR If you are part of a couple and do not live with any dependants, your benefit will be based on the Local Housing Allowance shared room rate if you live in shared accommodation.

debrag

originalacidman wrote: »

Thanks Caz3121.

We both received the 1 bedroom shared facilities rate of £240 a month. As I am over 25, I believe it should have worked out that I would receive the 1 bedroom self contained rate of £460 a month and my partner would not be eligible for HB.

I think that I am right as it states:

“single claimants over 25 and couples with no dependant children will be entitled to the 1 bedroom self contained LHA rate, providing they have exclusive use of other facilities such as their own bathroom, toilet and kitchen/cooking facilities or exclusive use of at least two rooms (counting only bedrooms and living rooms)”

We were at that time living in a 3 bedroom flat with a bathroom, living room and kitchen so I assume that we should qualify for the higher rate?

Can anyone that knows more about the benefit entitlements confirm this for me please??

How much did she receive? She'd have to pay it al back. Is this the £1080?