Entitledto- how can it be sooo wrong

reallylost

Hi
A few weeks ago I went on the entitledto website as we had to move and wanted to find out if we were able to claim HB or CTB.
I input my figures and was told I was able to claim £157 per wk for HB and £5.67 CTB.
I went to see my housing officer and gave her our figures which she ran through her in office government calculator and told me it was pretty close.
So we applied for the benefits and moved into a flat for £650 per month.
After waiting for the application to go through I have today received my confirmation letters. I am not antitled to any CTB and £90.45 HB. !!!!!!!!
How can these online calculators be so wrong?
Anyone else had the same problem?
Sam

BAFE

Before you do anything else, first check that they haven't made a mistake. Ring them up and tell them you don't think its right as it is very different to the figure the housing officer gave you and ask them to check it. Do this first them come back here.

Invalidation

This is by far the best place

http://www.turn2us.org.uk/

reallylost

thats the one I used
I have called and the "lady" told me that their decision is done and it is right and will not discuss it further

cit_k

reallylost wrote: »

thats the one I used
I have called and the "lady" told me that their decision is done and it is right and will not discuss it further

The lady has to give you an explanation, ask her for a written statement of reasons why you are not entitled.

Have you any idea what grounds you were refused on?

Online calculators for benefits are a very rough guide, that do not go any where near covering the thousands of pages of regulations that cover entitlement...

dmg24

To be fair, entitledto is only as good as the information that is input. Have you used gross and net figures where asked? Have you ensured that the tax credits entitlement (if relevant) is correct? Is your LHA rate £650 per month?

dmg24

What happened to your £50,000?

RAS

dmg24 wrote: »

What happened to your £50,000?

Things went rather comprehensively wrong https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2731243

Do not think the OP is still living there.

dmg24

RAS wrote: »

Things went rather comprehensively wrong https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2731243

Do not think the OP is still living there.

But an interest in property (if there is one) still needs to be declared - this could affect their entitlement.

swingaloo

I had exatly the same thing. Based on what the calculator said I went to the council offices and made an appointment. Tok everything in and the woman went through it all and said 'yes, we were entitled', even told me how much we qualified for. Filled in all the forms and waited, only to be sent a letter saying we were netitled to nothing.

I went back and asked why the difference and was told -'The online calculator we use is the same one you would use, its only a rough estimation' I explained that there was a massive difference but they were having none of it. Basically I was told that the calulator is useless.

RAS

dmg24 wrote: »

But an interest in property (if there is one) still needs to be declared - this could affect their entitlement.

They did not have an interest in the property which they helped to extend and I believe were advised that if they could not complete it they had to move out.

Scottish law on property is rather different.