benefits/ non informing of change of address

sparky1973_2

hi, a year and a half ago i was unfortunate in being made redundant and had to use the benefits system for the first time,i claimed housing benefit to pay my rent, i had a very unscrupulous landlord who was trying to say i owed money, and trying to get me to work for him for free,so eventually due to a lot of pressure i moved to a shared house, unfortunately i didnt notify housing that my address had changed,my situation was still unemployed for the next three months until i finally found work and stopped claiming, but i am now due to court next monday due to not informing of a change of address which amounts to just over 2000 pounds,although i still had to pay rent on the property i moved to. im wondering if anyone would know the likely penalty i will face, i sent housing a letter admitting i should have infomed about address change. i know benefits are a touchy subject, but i didnt dishonestly claim, i just didnt inform them of a change of address.

Hammyman

You will be made to repay the full amount. The fact you had to pay rent on the property you moved to is irrelevent. Yes you were dishonestly claiming by claiming for a property you weren't living in. You may be found guilty of benefit fraud and you will have to declare any judgement (other than being let off) on all job applications until the conviction is spent and it will show up on CRB checks.

AnxiousMum

One of the worst things about being done for fraud as someone I know found out - she can no longer get car insurance due to a conviction of fraud! Her's was a case of 'forgetting to inform them she got married' though.....hmmmm

You may see it as you 'only forgot to tell them about a house move', they see it as though, maybe the rate you were getting wouldn't have been the same rate paid for the new place, maybe the new tenancy didn't even qualify for assistance, maybe it was in a different LHA and therefore not the current LHA's responsibility anyway. Basically, if you are claiming any benefits, you need to keep them informed of any and all changes - and you agree to do that when you take the benefits in the first place.

Hopefully if it was a legitimate oversight you only have to pay back the funds illegally gained, but if that's the ruling made by a criminal court - then it will likely come with a 'guilty' verdict. What does your lawyer say?

sparky1973_2

i have not used a lawyer,because im not gonna contest the fact i was in the wrong. i have admitted that i was in the wrong by not informing them about an address change, and put in a guilty plea,and what u say about different rates at new place etc makes sense, thanks for your response.

Hammyman

The only thing you can really do is wear your best suit, eat a huge slice of humble pie and hope they're lenient on you. Your early admission will go in your favour. You'll still end up with a criminal record but hopefully a token fine and repayment will be the end of it - people have gone to prison for this.