Bedroom Tax, late to the party and didn't bring a bottle!

Sir_Pac

Recieved a Final Demand from Solihull Housing, for arrears of £90.

Problem is, I didn't recieve any letters prior to this regarding a decrease in housing benefits. I went from paying £6.10 week, to £20+ week, only nobody informed me of this.

So my account, which had been in credit by £50, mid-april, quickly fell into arrears.

It was quite a shock to recieve a Final Demand informing me to pay or lose my flat :cool: without any explaination of how this came about.

paddedjohn

Have you called housing benefits? What did they say?

lld01

Not sure what your question is but sadly you will still have to pay this. I'm sure they will agree for you to pay say an extra £5 a week until its cleared.

kelpie35

I have to ask OP, have you not been listening to the news on TV or radio or reading any newspapers over the last 6 months to a year?

I find it hard to believe you did not know you would be required to pay for a house that is too big for your needs.

Sir_Pac

Thanks for asking paddedjohn,

Yes I phoned them upon receiving the letter. I had a lot of questions to ask as although I had heard about ’Bedroom Tax’ I really didn’t know anything about it, having not received any letters pertaining to it.

So whilst I’m still reeling from the shock that my rent is about to quadruple, I’ve got this person on the other end of the line asking me when I’ll clear the arrears, and starting paying the new rate.

I had to tell her I’ll need to seek advice first as Job Seekers Allowance doesn’t allow me the luxury of having a pot to !!!! in.

The nice lady did inform me that they would accept payments from Monday, of £25 and that if I didn’t pay, and they had to take the matter to court, I’d also have to pay legal fees.

I shrugged this comment off as I guess she’s had this conversations with many others, and is just going through the motions.

I plan to visit CAB Friday morning, and hopefully I’ll be better informed come Monday when I have to tackle not having the £25 Solihull Housing are expecting from me.

Sir_Pac

kelpie35 wrote: »

I have to ask OP, have you not been listening to the news on TV or radio or reading any newspapers over the last 6 months to a year?

I find it hard to believe you did not know you would be required to pay for a house that is too big for your needs.

Hello kelpie35, I had heard the phrase Bedroom Tax banded about (not on TV or radio, as I have neither) but as I hadn't recieved any letters from either Solihul Housing or the benefits office, I had no cause to investigate the matter.

My last letter concerning 'Rent', was a rent card stating that as of Aptil 1st 2013 my rent would be £6.10. No other communications from that rent card til the Final Demand.

Go figure...

p.s No TV or Radio <<< I beat depression by ridding myself of these, and haven't felt the need to re-introduce them into my life :-)

Sir_Pac

lld01 wrote: »

Not sure what your question is but sadly you will still have to pay this. I'm sure they will agree for you to pay say an extra £5 a week until its cleared.

Thank Iid01, thats what I'm expecting to happen. I was told I could exchange to a one-bedroom and if that happens its a shame having lived here for 25yrs plus.

I've also just spent my savings plastering and tiling the place, so I'm not happy with having to move as an option :-(

I might also add that you mention paying an extra £5 week to clear the arrears. I wouldn't have any arrears if I had been informed of the benefit changes. I had been in credit on my account for over a year to the tune of £50.

I now have the task of finding an extra £19 a week! £14 because of the benefit chanegs, and £5 to pay off the arrears.

When living hand-to-mouth, finding an extra £25 a week is going to be a challenge.

superbigal36

So whilst I’m still reeling from the shock that my rent is about to quadruple,

But your rent is not quadrupling.
It is not going up at all.

iluvmarmite

Try to apply for discretionary housing payments, if you get it that will cover your reduction for a few weeks or even months so you can sort yourself out, are you on Facebook? If so I can give you the link to an appeal group who can help you

Dunroamin

Sir_Pac wrote: »

Thanks for asking paddedjohn,

Yes I phoned them upon receiving the letter. I had a lot of questions to ask as although I had heard about ’Bedroom Tax’ I really didn’t know anything about it, having not received any letters pertaining to it.

So whilst I’m still reeling from the shock that my rent is about to quadruple, I’ve got this person on the other end of the line asking me when I’ll clear the arrears, and starting paying the new rate.

I had to tell her I’ll need to seek advice first as Job Seekers Allowance doesn’t allow me the luxury of having a pot to !!!! in.

The nice lady did inform me that they would accept payments from Monday, of £25 and that if I didn’t pay, and they had to take the matter to court, I’d also have to pay legal fees.

I shrugged this comment off as I guess she’s had this conversations with many others, and is just going through the motions.

I plan to visit CAB Friday morning, and hopefully I’ll be better informed come Monday when I have to tackle not having the £25 Solihull Housing are expecting from me.

Your rent isn't quadrupling, it remains the same. You're just going to have to pay more of it out of your own pocket, unless you downsize.

Sir_Pac

superbigal36 wrote: »

So whilst I’m still reeling from the shock that my rent is about to quadruple,

But your rent is not quadrupling.
It is not going up at all.

What am I missing? £6.10 per week to £25!!!