Please HELP housing benefit.

jonnyboy82

Hi so about 3 weeks ago i take my partners wage slip into the local council as it has increased slightly for june,they suspend the claim which as i have aspergers syndrome and very bad anxiety i was very worried to the point of tears..

the council worker assured me it is normal and not to worry and i will put a note on the claim you have mental health issues,she said we will have to see julys payslip too so i took that in last week and got told an assessor will look at it anytime..

a very nice lady called us on monday who is the assessor dealing with it and said the july payslip is not showing but will be anyday,and she will deal with it,my partner called today and asked if it was on the system yes it has and was scanned on it on tuesday

she then asked if it has been looked at and was told the assessor has looked and done 2 things today a dwp check (i claim DLA) and a tax credits check (we claim tax credits) they had our latest award in may, but that was all that was done this afternoon,now we have not lied or done ANYTHING wrong but this has made me think that they think i am by doing these checks on us,i have not known this to happen before..

please anyone with any help please advise as to why this was done,also on monday the assessor said to my partner on the phone are you paid 4 weekly or monthly because on your latest paysip it looks monthy but we have you down as 4 weekly? it has always been monthly since january..she then asked for march april and mays payslips as she said we coud have been underpaid if it is monthy and not 4 weekly?..

i am very stressed at the moment and anyone who has experience and coud help it woud be great as we have ony been claiming since february..thanks

dseventy

Hi

As you are reliant on the state for your income (DLA) and the roof over your head (HB) and additional income (Tax Credits), you will have to deal with queries and applications.

Is there a way your partner can deal with these instead of you?

They are just checking everything is right. In your mental state the last thing you need is a overpayment or an accusation of lying or cheating.

You need to work with the system, suggest you ask your partner to deal with the brunt of it giving your condition.

D70

lycam_2

I wouldn't worry, it all sounds perfectly normal. I applied for housing benefit recently while on maternity leave and sent my payslips. I called to let them know that I had to wait for a tax credit award arriving as I couldn't find it and they told me they didn't need it as they now have a system in place where they check this directly with HMRC. They probably have a similar system for DWP though I don't know as I don't claim anything from them.
Also if they have you down as 4 weekly pay they could be underpaying you as they could be calculating your weekly income incorrectly.
I really wouldn't worry. You've done nothing wrong and it doesn't sound as though they think you have either.

Spamfree_2

Forgive me for asking but is Asperger's classed as being mentally ill these days?

jonnyboy82

Spamfree wrote: »

Forgive me for asking but is Asperger's classed as being mentally ill these days?

You are quite welcome to ask..

i have aspergers and a mental health condition were basically my aspergers makes me very anxious and leads onto silly thoughts and anxiety.

jonnyboy82

lycam wrote: »

I wouldn't worry, it all sounds perfectly normal. I applied for housing benefit recently while on maternity leave and sent my payslips. I called to let them know that I had to wait for a tax credit award arriving as I couldn't find it and they told me they didn't need it as they now have a system in place where they check this directly with HMRC. They probably have a similar system for DWP though I don't know as I don't claim anything from them.
Also if they have you down as 4 weekly pay they could be underpaying you as they could be calculating your weekly income incorrectly.
I really wouldn't worry. You've done nothing wrong and it doesn't sound as though they think you have either.

thanks sooo much for your reassuring comments,i see you have been in a similar position before.

dseventy

jonnyboy82 wrote: »

thanks sooo much for your reassuring comments,i see you have been in a similar position before.

Did you not see my reply?

D70

jonnyboy82

dseventy wrote: »

Did you not see my reply?

D70

yes i did thankyou also for your help.

i agree maybe i shoud let my partner deaal with things more on the phone side and as i know we are doing nothing wrong try not to worry as much but it is easier said than done

PasturesNew

Spamfree wrote: »

Forgive me for asking but is Asperger's classed as being mentally ill these days?

I hope not .... I'm one

recoverydust

I too have mental health issues, including very bad anxiety, so I completely understand how dealing with the council makes you feel. I get anxious to the point of paranoia about everything to do with housing benefits and council tax, as well as benefits.
My OH deals with all correspondence with them and goes to the office if there are any queries.
I hope your situation sorts smoothly
Xx