Housing Benefit and Self Employment

dollydo

Hi ,

I went self employed 3 months ago and have been claiming housing benefit since before that. All was fine.

Today I went into the council and gave in my 3 months worth of trading info. However, they didnt want it. When i asked why, i was advised that my account showed i was up for a 6 month review house visit. This is due in April. I was told I would be written to before the date to advise me.

Ive never heard of this before and not really sure if its normal policy. I took in the information today, which shows that i have been under paid, now im not worried about that, but i was told that if i have an underpayment in April (info gathered from the house visit) then i wont get it paid back, yet if they have over paid me they will want it back.

Is this normal. If any knows please let me know as now i will be worry until april about a home visit!

Thanks

dollydo

Any ideas if this is normal procedure for a a self employed person claiming hb?

Shameless bump - sorry !!

starchild1972

Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. They do it if you are working or even on a benefit that automatically entitles you to HB. Sometimes it's to check you are getting all benefits you are entitled to.

[Deleted User]

starchild1972 wrote: »

Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. They do it if you are working or even on a benefit that automatically entitles you to HB. Sometimes it's to check you are getting all benefits you are entitled to.

thats not quite true,they should do one every year but dont have the staff so some get it some dont we`ve had 2 in 12 years on IS

fluffymovie

It's your choice to give info when you wish and should there be an overpayment, I would argue it would be non recoverable as you tried to give in information.

I would never turn anyone away who was trying to give in information and would suggest you try again and if they say no, take a name and ask that your visit is noted on your claim

fluffymovie

Woodbine, it isn't every year as the JCP removed the review periods and a claim runs to an indefinite date but good practice says we should review anytime between3 months and 3 years but I come across pensioner claims from
2003 that have never been reviewed due to risk scoring.

[Deleted User]

fluffymovie wrote: »

Woodbine, it isn't every year as the JCP removed the review periods and a claim runs to an indefinite date but good practice says we should review anytime between3 months and 3 years but I come across pensioner claims from
2003 that have never been reviewed due to risk scoring.

sorry i was refering in our case to CTB as we dont get HB,but CTB should get an annual visit but as i said they dont due to lack of staff so its pot luck