Housing Benefit Self Employed - Help please?!

mrsc0123

Hi,

We're self employed photographers and couriers.

We've applied for Housing Benefit. The claim has taken almost 6 months to process and they still seem ages off actually sorting it out.

We were asked to complete an SE1 Self Employment form and were assured once received our claim would be processed.

Having completed and sent in the form they are now asking for a complete breakdown of all the items on the SE1. We have already given them the businesses yearly accounts with all transactions on.

Are they allowed to keep moving the goalposts and asking for more and more information? Even though their initial communications said that they only needed the SE1? We feel at the moment that we are doing their job for them and are filling everything out, they then ask for it in another format, we oblige, they then ask for everything to be explained and more information even though they have it ALL!!!

Are they allowed to demand more than the initial application form, required supporting documents (as listed in the application form) and SE1?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. We're trying so hard to get it sorted but they're relentless and we're not sure how to get it sorted quickly as the to'ing and fro'ing seems neverending as they're constantly saying they need info in other forms or something else.
Thanks.

Horace

I had this and kept writing to the head of benefits at my local council. I had to complete the self employment form that they sent me and would take my receipts into the neighbourhood office for them to look at - must admit they soon got bored with that as they expected to have the receipts photocopied and I didnt see why I should photocopy them.

Last year I had to complete the Self Employed form with a breakdown of what was spent on the business and included any personal stuff e.g. rent, electricity etc. I also supplied a copy of my accounts (I never sent originals as they have a tendency to get lost).

They ask for sight of everything and will keep asking until they receive it in the format that they are looking for. I would be inclined to write a letter to the Head of Benefits at your local council asking what more they need because the information has already been provided, state when the information was sent and in what format.

You have to apply for housing benefit every year as well and complete their Self Employment forms and provide all the evidence over and over again.