home visit housing benefit and council tax benefit

sporty1

Hi thanks for the above replies, its just a normal council benefits letter fot housing benefit/council tax benefit.
in may i was awarded high rate dla, to which i took in the letter the same day to show them, after a week they sent me a letter stating that they had reviewed my entitlment of rebate, to which i still have the letter here . since then nothing has changed regarding circumstances income i.e benefits etc , just seems strange how i will only beable to show them the same info that i took into them in may ?.
the letter just says have ready ....
proof of income (which would be my benefits surley they can check this on computers as they talk to each other each department dont they ?
and any savings / to which i dont have any......
I dont enjoy being on benefits since i finished work 2 yrs ago it just seems as though ii do everything on time ,send any changes in on time as soon as they happen i,e being awarded dla, but yet seem to be getting a visit after 5 mths of sending this info in, there are many others who have been on Housing benefit etc for a lot longer and never seem to have had a visit ? i get annoyed with everyone thinking that people on benefits enjoy living this way.. maybe those people who cririsise will may have to claim one of these benefits one day , and everyone shouldnt be tarred with the same brush , there are many different reasons Why people have to claim benefits.
Thanks for your answers i am understanding a little more know , that its not just me and others do have them

fluffymovie

As I have said, it isn't anything to worry about but it shouldn't take too long and is necessary.

We will check income on the computer we share with the dwp if necessary but is it really that much of an hassle really. You haven't been asked for anything for 5 months and it's likely you won't be asked for anything again for years

TOBRUK

sporty1 wrote: »

....
. since then nothing has changed regarding circumstances income i.e benefits etc , just seems strange how i will only beable to show them the same info that i took into them in may ?.
the letter just says have ready ....
proof of income (which would be my benefits surley they can check this on computers as they talk to each other each department dont they ?
...

I have discovered that no they don't seem to talk to each other always, some in the same office department! I would have thought that they would be able to check on computers seeing that they would only need to look up your reference number, but no, this doesn't seem to happen! Even if they can look up each case on the computer (if it is shared!), and it does depend whether the information is up to date i.e. someone has to input the information!

You said that you received high rate DLA recently, this would mean that if for example you were receiving IS then you would be receiving disability premiums which would be added to IS amount etc. This is what confused them in my case. So your circumstances did change, and although you showed them information in May it may not have been put on your file - placed on the computer!

Try not to worry, as long as you haven't done anything wrong you'll be ok.

sporty1

TOBRUK wrote: »

I have discovered that no they don't seem to talk to each other always, some in the same office department! I would have thought that they would be able to check on computers seeing that they would only need to look up your reference number, but no, this doesn't seem to happen! Even if they can look up each case on the computer (if it is shared!), and it does depend whether the information is up to date i.e. someone has to input the information!

You said that you received high rate DLA recently, this would mean that if for example you were receiving IS then you would be receiving disability premiums which would be added to IS amount etc. This is what confused them in my case. So your circumstances did change, and although you showed them information in May it may not have been put on your file - placed on the computer!

Try not to worry, as long as you haven't done anything wrong you'll be ok.

Hi i still have the stamped letter dated etc. which i recieved from them when i took the DLA award notification into them in may , and i still have the letter they sent to me a week after informing me of the changes in my housing benefit entitlment due to this change.. so shall just wait everything is in order and above board, so i am assuming it is just a general review
thanks

TOBRUK

Hi sporty1, yes I always keep all correspondence I receive from the DWP and DLA etc - I never throw them because you never know! When I had a visit I had everything I had ready ... letters, bank statements etc. Good luck, hope it goes ok.

When I had a visit he asked me whether I'd been notified that I was getting a visit because everywhere he'd been that morning nobody was in! Obviously some are avoiding them ... not a good idea!

piemashandliquer

This visit is done to check the accuracy of your claim and also sometimes to check that you are resident in your home. Councils have the right to check via this method whenever they wish although I do know that some councils are more 'pro active' with visits than normal postal reviews.

It is all perfectly normal and if you have nothing to hide it will take a few minutes, a signature and then they will be on their way.

djbum_syd

I had a visit less than a month ago. At least they informed you, lol. My one just turned up on my doorstep!
They wanted to check I lived at my property (I've lived here over a year). It's all random checks.
The guy spent about 10 minutes here, looked at my rent book, made a few notes and was on his way.
Nothing scary at all.

TOBRUK

The one that visited me was here for about an hour!