Help with housing benefit

dottodot

A stab in the dark - but could the overpayment be anything to do with fact that OP's brother pays the rent? Would the council consider that a source of income? And if someone else is paying the rent would that be considered to negate the need for Housing Benefit? Sorry if I've got entirely the wrong end of the stick though.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

dottodot wrote: »

A stab in the dark - but could the overpayment be anything to do with fact that OP's brother pays the rent? Would the council consider that a source of income? And if someone else is paying the rent would that be considered to negate the need for Housing Benefit? Sorry if I've got entirely the wrong end of the stick though.

No. Doesn't matter how the rent is being paid. It is the liability to pay rent and occupation.

pmlindyloo

I am going to say this again. Please act on it.

Everyone is trying to help but based on what you have told us none of it makes any sense as to why they are asking for more evidence.

Take all your paperwork and GO TO CAB and get some help. (forgive the shouting but we are going round in circles.)

If CAB can't/won't help then go to your local councillor or MP (look up their surgery times by googling.)

This has gone on too long and you are not getting anywhere. You need some help from someone local who can speak to the council.

danandjens_worldtravels

As above you need help with this, but it appears the council do not believe you live in the property, you have no evidence of using utilities there to show you are actually living there. I understand you have a problem with electric, but do you have meter readings/money set aside to pay when you do know who the supplier is.

Gas - do you have gas? Can you show consumption.

Water - are you on a meter? Do you have bills to show your water useage.

The evidence you have should persuade them, but if they believe you are not actually living there get some evidence of you actually living there. I'm surprised the police statements aren't enough, but they maybe don't go back to the start date of the claim. Is there any evidence of you moving in (man with van) or evidence of any regular deliveries?

I would assume the overpayment is for rent paid from when you moved in until Nov when the benefit stopped as they believe you have never lived there.

Best advice, get advice from CAB and do it as soon as possible.

puppy999

Pollycat wrote: »

OK, you've said your sister has provided the following to the Council:


If none of the above is adequate proof, have you asked what proof the Council will accept?

A number of posters (including me) have said this sounds very strange.

Have you asked the Council why they are sending council tax demands to your sister at the address they won't accept she lives at?

Yes I have asked the council what proof they need and I have explained numerous times verbal and in writing that we dont have a electric bill in my sisters name.

Yes I have asked them about the council tax and they keep telling me its a different department, and when I speak with them they refer me back to HB I have tried to speak with a manager even tried making an appointment with no success.

puppy999

bloolagoon wrote: »

A copy of the court summons must give strong evidence

What court summons ???

puppy999

danandjens_worldtravels wrote: »

As above you need help with this, but it appears the council do not believe you live in the property, you have no evidence of using utilities there to show you are actually living there. I understand you have a problem with electric, but do you have meter readings/money set aside to pay when you do know who the supplier is.

Gas - do you have gas? Can you show consumption.

Water - are you on a meter? Do you have bills to show your water useage.

The evidence you have should persuade them, but if they believe you are not actually living there get some evidence of you actually living there. I'm surprised the police statements aren't enough, but they maybe don't go back to the start date of the claim. Is there any evidence of you moving in (man with van) or evidence of any regular deliveries?

I would assume the overpayment is for rent paid from when you moved in until Nov when the benefit stopped as they believe you have never lived there.

Best advice, get advice from CAB and do it as soon as possible.

The CAB cant do any more than what I am already doing
There is no gas and the water is not on a meter
Do you think a statement from the refuge collection will help as they come to the house with my sister being disabled ???

Pollycat

puppy999 wrote: »

Yes I have asked the council what proof they need and I have explained numerous times verbal and in writing that we dont have a electric bill in my sisters name.

And what answer did they give you?

I find it hard to believe that a local government department keep insisting that what seems to a lot of people posting on this thread to be perfectly acceptable proof of occupancy is not acceptable to them but yet can't/won't say what is acceptable proof.

puppy999 wrote: »

Yes I have asked them about the council tax and they keep telling me its a different department, and when I speak with them they refer me back to HB I have tried to speak with a manager even tried making an appointment with no success.

It may be a different department but it's the same local government!

I find it hard to believe that you can't get an appointment - unless the reason is that they won't deal with you because it's your sister who is the tenant.

Is that the reason? Or are you saying they just won't/can't give you an appointment to discuss this?

puppy999 wrote: »

The CAB cant do any more than what I am already doing

But you are clearly getting nowhere with this.
Have you spoken to CAB at all?
What did they say?

puppy999 wrote: »

Do you think a statement from the refuge collection will help as they come to the house with my sister being disabled ???

There's not a lot of point asking this question on here as most of us think the proof you've already provided to the council is sufficient proof of occupancy.
Ask the council.

At this point, if I were in your shoes and trying to help my sister, I'd be making an appointment to see my local MP.

poppasmurf_bewdley

Nothing to do with your Housing Benefit, but if you have not received an electricity bill for more than 12 months, the electricity company cannot claim any of the bill from you. See if this applies to you.

See:
http://www.energy-uk.org.uk/publication/finish/43/412.html

p00hsticks

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

Nothing to do with your Housing Benefit, but if you have not received an electricity bill for more than 12 months, the electricity company cannot claim any of the bill from you.

MYunderstanding is that the OP doesn't receive (or expect) a bill becasue she pays by meter - she only mentioned that she hasn't had one as that would be someting she could use as evidence that she is living at the address