Cancelling Housing Benefit.

CakeCrusader

Hi.

I'm self employed and have been receiving housing benefit for just under a year. I've just been offered a permanent job on top of my self employed work, which I start at the end of Feb. I won't get paid for this until the end of March and I'm certain that I won't be entitled to housing benefit any more :T (it's lovely not to need it!).

I've just received a letter from the council as they wish to visit my home to check my bank statements etc, but it's on one of the days where I'm training for my new job, so I won't be in. If I go in to the council office and cancel my housing benefit will they still need to do this? Would they accept the bank statements if I took them in with me when I cancelled it? They pay 4 weekly in arrears and I'm not sure how this works, my last council just ummed when I asked about it.

Thank you

rogerblack

Investigations can be for various reasons.
From strong suspicion of fraud, to just a random pick of someone claiming HB to check.

Simply closing the claim does not mean it will go away - if it is in fact rooted in actual suspicion, not merely a spot-check.
It should be possible to drop them in.
You are entitled to HB until you're not.
Then the arrears is paid.

CakeCrusader

Thank you

They haven't said it's an investigation, just that they review all claims for housing benefit and they want to make sure the details they have are correct. I've claimed housing benefit before many years ago and they did the same thing, they just check your bank statement.

I'm more than happy to give them what they need so I'll start hunting for things, thank you I have a copy of my work contract which is dated and they are free to contact them so they can see that there's nothing dodgy going on.

Thank you