Housing benefit- STILL waiting!

cleggie

Hi all,

i have been getting partial HB for about a year now. About 5 months ago i was asked to attend the council offices as they had moderators in and my claim was one that had been chosen to be reviewed.

So, in i went, saw the assessor and when i left she said i had to provide 3 bits of evidence still.
2 weeks later,i went down and gave the evidence and that was that.
I had it confirmed that i had done everything i needed to do, and all i had to do was wait for them to come to a decision.

And i am still waitting. I have now been waiting almost 3 months, and i have not heard anything.
I have emailed and phoned them, and the housing associations (who are getting very impatient, understandably) have emailed and phoned them, but we are being given the same answer- 'its being processed asap'.

Now, as much as the lady dealing with my rent is being understanding, she admits that if it goes on much longer she will have to get a 'seeking notice of possession' (i think thats what its called??) order against me, as my arrears are getting so high.

Is there anything i can do to kick the council up the jacksy??

MissyS79

im def no expert on this... but maybe try your local MP, esp as what they are doing could result in your being homeless.

cleggie

Thanks missy, i hadnt thought of that!
What wouold i do, just explain the situation to him?? Could he actually do something?

MissyS79

They carry force behind them, i know people that are having problem with csa get them involved and get results. worth a try if u ask me

just googled contacting local mp and it come up with a parliment site for contacts, would post u the link but it wont let me!

allen35

Your Housing Association would need to go through a procedure to evict with certain stages, if you have already received a letter/notice with intention to seek repossession take it to your council office and ask for a receipt and request an interim payment.

Under these circumstances it tends to quicken the process, especially as you state you have given them all the info' they require.

Keep your landlord updated at every stage and if funds allow it make an agreed token payment towards rent to show willingness.

allen35

MissyS79 wrote: »

They carry force behind them, i know people that are having problem with csa get them involved and get results. worth a try if u ask me

just googled contacting local mp and it come up with a parliment site for contacts, would post u the link but it wont let me!

It would be better if you handed a letter of complaint first to the council and state in the letter if not resolved within 14 days you will be seeking guidance from the local government ombudsman.

Keep copies of all correspondence and send copies to your housing manager so they are aware your doing everything to resolve the situation.

Good luck

Jowo_2

Ask for an interim housing benefit payment. This can be requested 2 weeks after the claim has been handed in, if all the relevant information has been provided and it's just the case that the council haven't got around to processing it.

See the Shelter website for information on how to deal with rent arrears and the eviction process for social housing tenants. Keep good records - when you communicate to the HA (and the local council for that matter), do it in writing, keep a copy and ask the post office for a proof of posting certificate. Send the HA a brief letter outlining all the steps you have taken to deal with the arrears and your frustration with the local council delays.

cleggie

Thanks for your advice everyone,
i have been keeping in weekly contact with the housing association and have been keeping my end of the bargain which is to pay the surplus rent amount that i normally pay(£20 a week).

pandaspot

I think I would ring every day, send in a letter of complaint and get your local councillor involved.

No point sending in letters to them as it will remain in the backlog. And not be looked at for 3 months.

Ringing generally works in my work

luminated

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/

Put your post code in and get the details of your local MP, etc.

fluffymovie

Jowo, claim is in payment already so the POA rules wouldn't apply.

To have a claim suspended for 5 months sounds to me like they might have investigations looking at some aspect.

For example, I had a claim where it came to light lady had been working for a year but continued claiming JSA. I referred to our fraud section who referred onto DWP. Claim was suspended as there was a doubt over entitlement but I couldn't progress it until
JSA had come back which took more than a month.

I'd be very surprised if this 5 month delay was just because the assessor hadn't gotten round to it.

Would there be any cause for the claim to be complicated OP? Are you self employed, a person from abroad or have you had a change you haven't told them about?