Housing Benefit

maryjane2013

Hi All,

I am after a bit of advice as I seem to have got myself in a mess and panicking a little.

My boyfriend moved into my flat back in May he was unemployed and claiming job seekers and changed his housing benefit claim to my flat address once he moved in.

This month we got a visit from the job centre team to the flat as because we live above a pub they assumed or had reason to believe he was working in the pub, he wasnt.

So they came round and when they visited they asked if he lived with somebody and he said yes and asked if I worked which I do. On the reply of this they said he wasnt allowed to claim any benefits and signed him off instantly.

We was in shock as I was puzzled to see how I could support him as I am on a low income. Anyway she said because I claim working tax credit he isnt allowed to claim any job seekers and Ive to apply for a joint tax credit which I have sent off.

And also that if he requires housing benefit its needs to be a joint claim also. I / we had no clue to this esp because he had only just moved in and we assumed a partner was someone ready to marry. Anyway obviously we were wrong.

So now obviously because everything we was doing was wrong and not to our knowledge know I don't really know how to go forward.

Because he was clasiming Housing benefit as a single person we should have really done this as a couple. But if we now put in for a couple claim they will want to know why we never did this Im guessing if I explain what's happened they will still ask him to pay it all back as really its incorrect what we have done. Theres no way he could ever pay it back or me.

Really I don't know what do and panicking somewhat. Am I bgest explaining the fault to the housing? or am I best just getting him to stop claiming it and thats it and find the rent ourselves?? or put a new claim in??

I earn £90.00 a week and get around £55.00 working tax credit the problem what also might come into it all is we both pay £280 each in rent but I work in the pub in exchange for rent he doesnt.

I just don't know what to do or whats the best and pancicking as really the claim was wrong and could be classed as fraud. But Im sure we would still qualify for housing because he has no income?? Its such a mess

Any help advice would be great.:(

Jamie_Carter

Are you serious?

You contradict yourself in your post.

maryjane2013

Yes Im serious why would I not be? Ive come on here for some advice as I dont know what to do.

shop-to-drop

Can't he work in the pub too?

maryjane2013

shop-to-drop wrote: »

Can't he work in the pub too?

No theres no jobs in the pub

maryjane2013

Just wanting more infomation on going forward with the housing to be honest.

Jamie_Carter

maryjane2013 wrote: »

Yes Im serious why would I not be? Ive come on here for some advice as I dont know what to do.

You need to read through your own post then.

You have come across as someone who was trying it on, and got caught out.

You also said that he had just moved in, yet you could never pay back his housing benefits since he moved in.

And you imply that you don't understand what the term 'partner' means. :rotfl::rotfl:

maryjane2013

sorry does come across wrong in the way I have wrote it.

I wrote he moved in in may and because and because he had only moved in recently I wouldnt have thought a partner would be someone you have only just started living with like a new girlfriend and that I could be responsible for keeping them. Neive as that may sound.

He moved in he changed his address to mine at the job centre with absoltley no knowledge that we had to do a joint claim and either job seekers or housing until we got the visit.

Im no fraud and merely asking questions on how I go about going forward.

Jamie_Carter

maryjane2013 wrote: »

sorry does come across wrong in the way I have wrote it.

I wrote he moved in in may and because and because he had only moved in recently I wouldnt have thought a partner would be someone you have only just started living with like a new girlfriend and that I could be responsible for keeping them. Neive as that may sound.

He moved in he changed his address to mine at the job centre with absoltley no knowledge that we had to do a joint claim and either job seekers or housing until we got the visit.

Im no fraud and merely asking questions on how I go about going forward.

Obviously you make joint claims, as they told you.

maryjane2013

Thanks Il just leave it on this forum. Thanks for any replies. Wont be replying back now.

shop-to-drop

Make sure your contract with your landlord is all up to date with both your names etc.