Not so nice banking

Thesiteagent

A friend of mine, an unmarried mum with two children has housing benefit paid into her account with which she then pays her landlord the rent.
Due to her once overdrawing her account she incurred charges which she could not afford to repay. The bank now take her housing benefit and she is now in danger of being evicted due to rent arrears.

My question, can the bank legally touch this money as it appears on her statement as housing benefit from the local council?

Please help

premierfella

Short answer: yes, completely 100% legal. The money is no different as far as the bank is concerned than any other standard deposit into the account.

The way to stop the housing benefit being eaten into by charges is to open another account (probably a basic bank account) with another bank and have the housing benefit paid directly into the new account. (Obviously the problem of the existing bank account charges would still need to be resolved separately).

Thesiteagent

Many thanks for that Premierfella, that has confirmed what I was thinking, I will pass on your comments.