Council tax

Pinktooth

I worked a part time job for two months getting 121 pounds a week and claiming housing benefit too as someone at DWA said over the phone that I was still allowed to claim it as my part time job did not matter and also I was allowed extended housing benefit.


But the council wrote saying I had been overpayed which I was for a month as I was very busy moving and trying to find a job, and my bank the money was put in I hardly looked at as it as really my secondary bank so the council said I had to pay all the payment back and the fact I had 25000 in a high interest ready for a 20 percent buy in a house.

The council say now that my income was too high to qualify for housing benefit.

So the council kept sort of making excuses that I did not tell them I had moved from my landlord and then some other excuse but the fact that they gave me a form for the landlord to sign to say the landlord ill tell them when I left which he did not and I personally handed this form back in to the council they said I should have told them.

The fact that I thought I would not be a dole scrounger until I could move into this part buy house has been a complete waste and caused me more debt than work earnings and really its not my fault as I was told by authority something else.

dseventy

Your post is confusing.

You had 25K in the bank and claimed means tested benefits?

Did you tell them you had 25K?

How did you manage to overlook 25K?

Can you elaborate?

D70

Pinktooth

THe money was for buying this house I am in now which I own 20 percent part share buy.
The money was in a special high intrerest separate bank account until my solicitor finalised the house buy and the money was then transferred for the sale.

I told and explained to the council this and they cause all sorts of questions and proof from my solicitor that this money was just for the house buy which I of course provided the proof.

dseventy wrote: »

Your post is confusing.

You had 25K in the bank and claimed means tested benefits?

Did you tell them you had 25K?

How did you manage to overlook 25K?

Can you elaborate?

D70

dseventy

Unless its in some kind of trust or proceeds from a house sale, you still had the money and should have been declared.

Can your solicitor not help?

D70

Pinktooth

dseventy wrote: »

Unless its in some kind of trust or proceeds from a house sale, you still had the money and should have been declared.

Can your solicitor not help?

D70

As I said, I did declare it.

I would like to know if the council are just being, well, you know what and are wrong to try and claim all benefits back, or most of it?

Pinktooth

My solicitor has already sent them paperwork and a letter.

Councils seem to do as they please and make their own rules up.

paddedjohn

you had £25000 stashed away and still expect the council (the public purse) to give you benefits??

"The fact that I thought I would not be a dole scrounger until I could move into this part buy house has been a complete waste and caused me more debt than work earnings and really its not my fault as I was told by authority something else. "

in your own words you admit to wanting to be a scrounger.

Pigletto

The rule is that if you have over £16,000 in savings then you are not entitled to means tested benefits. It doesn't matter what you have the money saved for.

As far as I know if someone has sold their house and intends to buy a new one with the proceeds then there are a few months where the money is not counted when means tested benefits are assessed. This is to allow the person a few months to find a new property to buy but after that time is up if they have not purchased a house the money will counted as savings and could then affect any means tested benefits.

Also you say you were working part time for 2 months. Did you declare this income to the Council?