Can someone claim housing benefit with my address?

nannytone_2

i had something similar at my old address but it concerned car insurance ( i opened the letter by accident, as i assume the post that came through my doo was mine)
i telephoned the company and they told me not to worry and that it would be corrected.

but this happened several times with different insurance companies.

i havent managed to grasp where the scam is, but everyone knows where they live so giving an incorrect address cant be a mistake

xylophone

This is true yes, but doesn't address the problem that someone may be claiming benefits on my address? Would the council investigate if it was simply returned as unknown? If someone is using my address rather than a simple error by the council (although as I stated earlier they shouldn't be making this kind of error..) then it does not help me to simply return it as unknown, the council may just issue another? Or just stop this persons benefits - but that doesn't put my mind at ease does it? The council would most likely keep my address details on this file until they received new details rather than expunging them.

On being advised that the addressee is unknown to the occupant and does not live at the address, the Council would investigate if benefit were being paid to that person?

Esoog

xylophone wrote: »

On being advised that the addressee is unknown to the occupant and does not live at the address, the Council would investigate if benefit were being paid to that person?

In an ideal world yes, however with public services cut to the bone I doubt they have the time or resources to do so - unless someone makes a "fuss". As I said earlier I suspect they would simply either re-issue the letter or stop the benefits and keep the address details on file, which isn't really a great outcome for me.

One of my original points was that they should not need to investigate surely because housing benefit is claimed against a specific house by a specific person isn't it? Therefore they should know that my house does not claim housing benefit/council tax assistance or as such. - Unless someone is doing so illegally - I could of course say hang on what about the council tax register; this person isn't registered at my house so how could they do so? Etc!

nannytone_2

Esoog wrote: »

In an ideal world yes, however with public services cut to the bone I doubt they have the time or resources to do so - unless someone makes a "fuss". As I said earlier I suspect they would simply either re-issue the letter or stop the benefits and keep the address details on file, which isn't really a great outcome for me.

One of my original points was that they should not need to investigate surely because housing benefit is claimed against a specific house by a specific person isn't it? Therefore they should know that my house does not claim housing benefit/council tax assistance or as such. - Unless someone is doing so illegally - I could of course say hang on what about the council tax register; this person isn't registered at my house so how could they do so? Etc!

the fact that you tell the council that the claimant is 'unknown at that address' would be enough to cancel the claim. they dont keep paying while they investigate

dodger1

As far as opening other people's mail but with my address on the envelope is concerned, the first one gets returned "not known at this address", the second one from the same place gets opened to see if it needs dealing with, normally someone after money.

fluffymovie

The issue of opening post addressed to someone else aside, there are some possible things happening here

1 - The council have input the wrong address. This does happen but ordinarily, more like Flat 2 when it's called First Floor etc. If the claimant they have, is renting a room as opposed to a whole property, Ctax records would not be very helpful as they would not be liable.

2 - Someone is claiming to be living at your address and is not. In this case, I would expect that your Council Tax may have been amended (assuming you live alone) as you would lose your SPD.

In either case, I would have recommended that you contact the council using details shown on the DNR envelope to make them aware. They would check their systems and take it from there.

As you have opened the letter, I would reseal and send it back to them DNR with a covering letter to explain that no one of that name lives at your address and to request confirmation that they have updated their records.

Arachne_2

Same thing happened to me the other day - wrong name, my address.

I know the bloke the letter was addressed to (happens to be an ex), and he lives across the street.

Luckily, the postie handed it to me in person so I was able to give him the correct adress. Whether he delivered it there, or took it back with him I have no idea.

Esoog

And today, a letter from HMRC addressed to a limited company at my address! Given the name of the company I can't help but think these two things are related. The registered address of this company is in the same post code, but not anywhere near

RAS

Post codes usually only cover 15-20 properties so I struggle to understand what you mean.

You could return to sender or ring the HMRC?

have you checked the electoral roll for your address and have you looked at your credit reference checks recently?

KateBob

RAS wrote: »

Post codes usually only cover 15-20 properties so I struggle to understand what you mean.

You could return to sender or ring the HMRC?

have you checked the electoral roll for your address and have you looked at your credit reference checks recently?

I assumed from that that they'd checked the registered office address of the company and discovered it was nearby but different to the one being used.