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I have been denied Housing Benefit backpay.

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Comments

  • MamaMoo_2
    MamaMoo_2 Posts: 2,644 Forumite
    adamantine wrote: »
    why ask your local council for help when struggling? you go to the job centre for that. you stated it took them over 4 months to get back to you but surely any resonable person would have gone back after a week and chased up a response. i know i would have and done so every week till i got an answer to my questions. afterall thats what the advisors are there for.

    this all boils down to you and you need to take responsibility for that. you asked but didnt chase up or get a 2nd opinion from a more reliable source. you didnt think you were entitled so you didnt apply.

    if you have grounds to get backpay that opens the doors for many many other people to try to claim backpay meaning it takes up more of the councils time and money investigating whether these claims are legitimate.

    just accept your mistake, learn from it and move on.


    Actually, you'll find most councils have specialist "Money Advice Teams" to offer help and advice to those having financial difficulties.
    They'll do a SOA, help you figure out where you can cut back, and also run a benefits check.

    I'm still entirely unsure as to how OP is entitled on such a high income when people on much lower incomes aren't.

    Also, OP, as you're struggling so much, have you tried posting an SOA in the DFW forums? They may be able to help you figure out a way to save money?
  • onetomany
    onetomany Posts: 2,170 Forumite
    omg this must be a wind up me and hubby both working for less than you get with 2 kids and we carnt claim so i think you might have to look at your debts because you should live comftably on what you get
  • GlasweJen
    GlasweJen Posts: 7,451 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Op why didn't you just use google back in April? Benefit entitlements, what benefits can I claim and can I get help with living costs all throw up entitled to and the hmrc tax credit calculator on google?
  • fluffymovie
    fluffymovie Posts: 1,417 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Its hard for people, especially ones who work hard for their money, not to have a moan when others get things you cant just because they are over 60!

    I personally think ive earned something for the 16 years of contributions ive given to this country.

    Its £300 FOR GODS SAKE!

    I was keeping an eye on the thread because I had posted some guidance but I really just have to say, please just take the advice and move on.

    I too work full time and have paid into the tax system, as have millions of others. When I got a job, I didn't think to myself, well, at least at some point, I will get this tax back and neither should we.

    I have used the NHS, I agree with funding of schools and hospitals, I want to see an end to child poverty etc etc. This is what I hope my money is being spent on and tbh, I deal with people who think that because they have paid tax, the system owes them. I haven't ever claimed a benefit, held off having kids because I can't afford them but the world doesn't owe me anything

    So please, just take the advice and stop looking for someone to blame. It isn't the system, it isn't the person at the benefit office. What comes around, goes around.
    I currently manage a Housing Benefit service and have been working in Housing / council tax benefit (as was) since 2001.

    All views expressed in my posts are my own opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer.
  • embob74
    embob74 Posts: 724 Forumite
    Its hard for people, especially ones who work hard for their money, not to have a moan when others get things you cant just because they are over 60!

    I would have thought over 60's can get the back pay easily as it is this age group who are renowned for not claiming benefits they are entitled to.

  • I personally think ive earned something for the 16 years of contributions ive given to this country.

    Its £300 FOR GODS SAKE!

    It doesn't quite work like that.

    I've paid a fortune in tax & NI over the past few years, and the only benefit OH and I have ever claimed, child benefit, is being removed from us next year.
    ...much enquiry having been made concerning a gentleman, who had quitted a company where Johnson was, and no information being obtained; at last Johnson observed, that 'he did not care to speak ill of any man behind his back, but he believed the gentleman was an attorney'.
  • cit_k
    cit_k Posts: 24,812 Forumite
    I don't see that different rules for different benefits are (1) ultra vires, (2) procedurally unfair, or (3) irrational (Wednesbury unreasonable).


    I disagree, it is irrational to allow backdating for one benefit, but not for another.

    Even the excuse they would use

    "they were ill so were allowing 3 months to backdate" does not hold water, as surely they would also have been to ill to put in a claim for HB too - and yet, they cant backdate HB if you didn't put a claim in due to health, unless you were literally unable to fill in a form or post it.

    As it stands though, if you went to the authority, and it was reasonable for them to give advice about claiming HB, and they did not, then you should have good cause ...

    Proving it is going to be the hard part though.
    [greenhighlight]but it matters when the most senior politician in the land is happy to use language and examples that are simply not true.
    [/greenhighlight][redtitle]
    The impact of this is to stigmatise people on benefits,
    and we should be deeply worried about that
    [/redtitle](house of lords debate, talking about Cameron)
  • OP my only advice to you would be to carry on down the road you're going down, but don't let it take over your life.

    If you get nowhere with the HB's appeal process, contact your local ombudsman. If he/she then decides that you're not entitled to backpay you'll just have to accept it and move on.

    I'd also be enclined to check the details you've given them. As a single working parent making 25k gross but paying £120 a week childcare and £900 a month rent and council tax by myself I'm "only" entitled to £60 a week. Best to be sure because you don't want to be overpaid believe me.
    "If you don't feel the bumps in the road, you're not really going anywhere "
  • jojo_2012 wrote: »
    OP my only advice to you would be to carry on down the road you're going down, but don't let it take over your life.

    If you get nowhere with the HB's appeal process, contact your local ombudsman. If he/she then decides that you're not entitled to backpay you'll just have to accept it and move on.

    I'd also be enclined to check the details you've given them. As a single working parent making 25k gross but paying £120 a week childcare and £900 a month rent and council tax by myself I'm "only" entitled to £60 a week. Best to be sure because you don't want to be overpaid believe me.

    I will take it as far as i can jojo, i just feel really strongly about this and im just finding being in debt hard and getting extra money to help my families situation is important to me, hence my reaction to being turned down.

    I am only getting £46.85 a week and i do have to support my husband and 5.5 month old son( which is expensive, the formula milk is £8.49 alone!) so dont think they are over paying me. Its less than what you are getting.
  • I will take it as far as i can jojo, i just feel really strongly about this and im just finding being in debt hard and getting extra money to help my families situation is important to me, hence my reaction to being turned down.

    I am only getting £46.85 a week and i do have to support my husband and 5.5 month old son( which is expensive, the formula milk is £8.49 alone!) so dont think they are over paying me. Its less than what you are getting.


    Your debts are your own and moaning that you aren't getting backpay in benefit that would help you to pay them is a bit galling. Forgive me if I've missed an answer to this, but is there a reason why you are 'supporting' your OH - is he a stay-at-home dad? There are lots of ways to cut your expenditure and, frankly, on 26k income this shouldn't be too difficult. Perhaps you need to look at a DMP if the debts are unmanageable?

    I would be very surprised if you are entitled to nearly 2.5k per annum in housing benefit with that level of income so please treble check the figures to ensure you are not overpaid otherwise you will have another debt around your neck.

    On the issue of claiming CTC, if you fail the identity check when you ring (for example if you give a diffierent address or name to that on their system or incorrectly answer the 'secret' question) you will be asked to go to a local office to prove your identity. I'm sure, as a tax-payer yourself, you can see the reasoning behind this? They do not insist on photographic ID. You need to find out again what you have to do to claim the tax credit you are entitled to. If you were truly in the desperate situation financially that you say you are, you would be @rsed to this.
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