Offering Help!

MDF_Goblin

I think you're mistaken.

A HB overpayment is recoverable under the Social Security Admin Act and HB Regs. Rent arrears are entirely different. The DWP overpayments guide says the same thing.

Rent arrears and HB overpayment must be distinguished. Rent arrears are a debt owed to the LA.

welshcakes

Nice to see some well-intentioned and well-informed advisors stepping up to the mark to help people genuinely in need of assistance. Sometimes, it's jsut a simple but straight piece of advise that canmake the difference between isolated confusion and a doorway through the maze surrounding work,benefit and council legislation.

I take my hat off to all who perform the immensely important service of offering help and coming up with specific 'plan of action' responses.

Though I haven't been involved in council for a long time (ex-housing), I have a good working knowledge of family divorce law so am happy to offer what help I can. As it's not benefit related so not appropriate to this particular board, please feel free to pm me if there's specifics with which I can help.

looby75

Karen, thanks for that, I know that she definitely did tell them in the correct way that she had returned to work and no longer needed hb because the fact that she "signed off" before the claim had been fully processed and finalised caused a big delay in her receiving what she was due to and her landlord (she was privately renting at that time) started eviction proceedings against her. She got the rent paid directly to him, and even then it wasn't for the full amount so she ended up having to pay the difference herself.

Icemoose

Any suggestions what she should do now? She has already asked for a statement of her account so she can try to work out where these arrears have come from but the person she spoke to yesterday said they can't supply her with one and she just has to take their word for it, as 'they know how to do their own jobs' !!!!

First off the way they spoke to your sister is just disgraceful! That is defiantly a complaint about the attitude of the staff.

I think Zingara pretty said what you need to do.

If it was a genuine overpayment then there should have been a letter in writing sent to your sister detailing the overpayment and that they where intending of reclaiming it back from the housing.

A copy of this letter should have also been sent to your sister’s landlord whether that is a council / housing association or private landlord. She might be wise asking who she rents from for a copy of any correspondence that they have been sent from HB and the CTB department and a full rent statement so she can see the date of payments made and when they claimed back the overpayment.

The local HB office can and have to if you request it a copy statement of all payments made to her landlord. Also request a copy of all correspondence they have sent since her claim was opened.

looby75

thank you Icemoose, I'm forwarding this thread to my sis and I know she will appreciate all your advice.

Little_Green_2

Icemoose wrote:

If I can help in anyway on the board feel free to contact me as I have lost of experience in HB and CTB as a trained Assessment Officer!

Icemoose (or anyone else in the know) I wonder then if you can advise me where I stand in making a claim for CTB.
I have just been made redundant and am expecting a compensatory payout from my old firm. When that comes in it will take my savings over the qualifying level but I have been told by a friend (well the union rep actually) that redundancy money cannot be taken in to consideration when determining my eligibilty for benefit. Is this right? I haven't claimed yet because I didn't think that I would be entitled

real1314

Redundancy CAN be taken into account as savings. Definite.

The first £30k of any redundancy is TAX free, however.

You should tell your union rep to check their facts.

creamtea_2

Thanks for offering help. Please can you advise how much discretion the local council has in awarding CT discount for health? Had Dr send in confirmation of subst. mental impairment but cannot get the discount as the council take into account 2 adult wage earner (children) even though the person has full dla for care/mobility. Is this correct. Thanks Could really do with a reduction as financially strapped!!!

CIS

Iam a Council Tax Revenues Assistant.

For Council Tax,as long at their are two people in the property, aged over 18 and not disregarded for Council tax, then no matter how many other occupants are present, the whole amount is due regardless of the status of those extra occupants.

SMI (severely mentally impaired) is the only disability classification that gets disregards/exemption, however , a carer can get disregarded regardless of whether the person they care for is SMI - depending on qualifying benefits, (you cant however get a carers disregard for looking after a partner/spouse or child under 18)

Fran

***Boarguide Comment***

I've made this thread a sticky as it's really useful. :T