Housing Benefit - Is my nephew committing fraud?

Jonathon_Barnes

My nephew started claiming housing benefit whilst he was searching for a job after graduating from university. He has since found a job, and cancelled his JSA payments, but still recieves £260 a month from Housing Benefit.

I have told him he is committing fraud by not declaring his new job specifically to the council, but he thinks he was told that JSA would inform the council.

Is he liable to pay the money back? Are there any more repurcussions if he doesn't act soon?

looby75

He should tell the council but he is right that usually when JSA is stopped the council are informed.

Depending on his wage he may still be entitled to claim housing benefit, he will have to pay back any overpayment, but if he is honest with the council and informs them sooner rather than later I doubt there will be any serious repercussions.

How long has he been working for?

Caz3121

he needs to inform the council himself, he is likely to have an overpayment that will need to be paid back and the longer he waits, the larger the overpayment will be

ceecee1

If he fails to inform the local authority and an overpayment goes on for long enough so that it reaches over £2000 he is risking a criminal conviction for a fraud offence which could affect the rest of his life (depending on the career path he takes)
Its silly not to tell them - he may still be entitled to some HB on the grounds of low income

chigley

It is his claim and therefore his responsibility to notify the Council - the Jobseekers handbook (ES40JP) clearly states this.

xylophone

Advise the council that he was under the impression that the Job Centre people would have told them that he had found work but now realizes that that may not have been the case and ask what his next step should be.

Impress upon him that it really is not worth the hassle of being suspected of benefit fraud!

Jonathon_Barnes

Okay, I will tell him to hurry up!
He keeps on banging on about getting put on hold when he calls up on his lunch hour. He reckons they are shut on the weekend, but that seems highly unlikely to me.

Maybe I should leave a message on his behalf!

looby75

Jonathon_Barnes wrote: »

Okay, I will tell him to hurry up!
He keeps on banging on about getting put on hold when he calls up on his lunch hour. He reckons they are shut on the weekend, but that seems highly unlikely to me.

Maybe I should leave a message on his behalf!

it will depend on the council. I know our housing benefit section is only open weekdays and it's a real nightmare to get through to them on the phone.

If he's really struggling to get through he could always write to them, or check his councils website, sometimes they have a way of reporting change of circumstances there too.

real1314

Although JSA may inform councils of changes, that does not remove the claimants liability to inform the council.

He should send a letter to inform them, keep a copy and get a certificate of posting. Any HB paid since he started work has been overpaid and almost certainly will need to be repaid. :cool:

I_luv_cats

Yes best for him to tell the council.

There may be a lag as they may not action stuff immediately



http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_10018901

There my be possibility of housing benefit run on dependant on the qualifying criteria

drwho2011

Many councils can be contacted via email these days, if he searches on their website he may find the contact details for the team who deals with housing/council tax benefit.