Housing Benefit

sovilla

When my partner started work I contacted housing benefit to advise a change of circumstances. They suspended the benefit and asked for his pay slips which I sent in.

I also told them that I wasnt working due to being on unpaid leave. They have asked for a letter from my employer about the unpaid leave and my last payslip, not a problem I can get that to them.

But also in the letter it states we have been overpaid by £360. Even though I told them straight away. Also I thought we would get a 4 week run on as my partnrer was on JAS for 6 months.

I cant ring them and sort it out as its in my partners name and they wont talk to me, I will get him to ring when hes home from work but hes not good at getting across information.

Do they not do the 4 week run on anymore? are they going to want this overpayment back in full straight away as we just dont have that to hand?

My partner has started work and brings home £253 a week, we lost £131 a week housing benefit, £110 a week tax credits and now have to pay full council tax, we have lost working tax credits so have to pay for prescriptions, opticians and dentist. We are actually out of pocket with him working, the government dont make it easy for people that want to work. I work 20 hours and sturggle to get the kids looked after when im at work, if I left my job we would be better off, but I love my job, I make good money and its permanent. *sigh* sorry for the little rant, just frustrating at times.

Toxicity

We had to advise our council in writing that we wished to apply for the run on, so not all will give it to you automatically. You'll need to ask them about it.

Wouldn't your claim have been a joint one though? I don't see why they wouldn't talk to you about it, even if your partner was the main claimant.

Suarez

This is what annoys me! People wanting to go out and work and as soon as they come off benefits they get zero support.

I was on JSA a few years ago, found a job which started at the beginning of a month which meant I wasn't paid until 28th.

They took me off JSA straight away then when I asked how I was going to pay to get to and from work, food, bills etc they said "It's not our problem now"...

paddedjohn

The only sure way to make work pay is to abolish tax credits.

Errata

I cant ring them and sort it out as its in my partners name and they wont talk to me, I will get him to ring when hes home from work but hes not good at getting across information.

Get him to ring and immediately say to them they have his permission to discuss this with you and pass the phone over to you.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

What type of Job Seekers Allowance was he on? Income based or contribution based?

You can only get the 4 week run on if on JSA Income based continuously for 26 weeks.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

sovilla wrote: »

I also told them that I wasnt working due to being on unpaid leave. They have asked for a letter from my employer about the unpaid leave and my last payslip, not a problem I can get that to them.

sovilla wrote: »

I work 20 hours and sturggle to get the kids looked after when im at work, if I left my job we would be better off, but I love my job, I make good money and its permanent. *sigh* sorry for the little rant, just frustrating at times.

So are you not working or working 20 hours a week - you contradict yourself?

sovilla

Housing_Benefit_Officer wrote: »

So are you not working or working 20 hours a week - you contradict yourself?

I was on unpaid leave for 4 weeks while my mum was having treatment for cancer, im now back at work. And now we dont qualify for housing benfit which is fine, im just worried about having to pay back the overpayment in one go.