Housing Benefit Help!

Reallyneedhelp_2

My HB and CT is currently under suspension as i have moved from ESA to JSA from the start of January hoping to get back to work.

Because it has taken so long the HB and CT has been suspended and I was asked to provide proof of my income. I gave them a copy of my saving account which I used for my HB and ESA to go into.
Yesterday I revieved a letter saying I have to provide information to the HB office despite already doing so? :think:

I live alone but have a partner who lives with his mum and dad.
Due to him getting in financial difficulties last year I allowed him to use my current account for his wages and he has helped me out by paying some money towards my bills when i have fallen behind.
I can get written proof from him and his gaffer stating these are his wage BACS and not mine. I can get a copy of his wage slip and proof of his address as obviously his mail goes to his parents.

Basically what I am asking is do I take over all this proof to the HB office and show them although wages are going in to an account they are not mine and the preson does NOT live with me or will I get into trouble for not declaring it sooner?
Also will these affect my HB being reinstated?

I stupidly thought because it wasnt my income and he didnt live with me it wouldnt be a problem

Any help greatly appreciated!

property.advert

You want help so you have to jump through their hoops. You already realise there are problems but seem to continue having his wages paid into your account. I do not think you are doing very much to help yourself.

munchings-n-crunchings

I got myself into a very similar situation to yourself.

I opened a bank account in my name, but for my disabled sister's use.
Previously she had got into difficulties resulting in CCJ's etc, so having an account in my name, I could easily monitor it, and make sure she didn't get into a mess again.

In my head, I knew what I was doing, I could justify my actions, and I had a very simplistic view.

it was only when HB enquired about this account, did I realise how this would be viewed from a benefits position.
Over the next few weeks, I changed the account into a joint account, then I came off the account, leaving it in my sisters name.

I put in writing to HB, that all monies in this account were my sisters, and could prove by a paper trail where the money was from, and my sister also wrote a confirming letter.

It's not a mistake I'll make again!

Munchie

Reallyneedhelp_2

property.advert wrote: »

You want help so you have to jump through their hoops. You already realise there are problems but seem to continue having his wages paid into your account. I do not think you are doing very much to help yourself.

his wages havent went into my account from the start of december, he is in the middle of setting up DDs on his own account so i can cancel the ones leaving my account - his insurance etc - so i dont understand how you say im not doing much to help myself??

DeeT_2

Don't worry, as long as you can provide evidence that he doesn't live with you, it won't be a problem.

You say that you have switched from ESA to JSA. If you get Income-Based JSA, the DWP should have advised the HB office automatically of your entitlement. If this hasn't been done all you need to do is provide evidence of the JSA(IB) , and you won't have to provide any details of bank accounts anyway.

If you get JSA(C), send them the entitlement letter plus your bank statement and the other information regarding your boyfriend, including his current address, and that should be sufficient.

HB and CTB will only have been suspended because they don't have enough info about your income to enable an assessment to be made - not because they think there's anything untoward. They will have seen situations like this on numerous occasions.