Help! need advise on a difficult benefits situation

screblet

Hi, Ive been reading this forum for a while now but haven't posted until now,

I've got myself into a very sticky situation regarding benefits and cashflow

Ill start from the beginning.

At the beginning of December I lost my job and had to apply for Jobseekers, Housing benefit and council tax reduction.

After about 2 weeks I managed to find part time work.

I stupidly forgot to inform them of my change of circumstance but as My hours averaged at less than 16 a week and my jobseekers had stopped but housing benefit continued, I assumed everything was fine.

The hours then dried up at this new job in mid january and I have just applied for jobseekers again after realising my money situation was getting worse.

I phoned up the council with a question about the council tax reduction and was informed that I was not entitled to my housing benefit for the period since my circumstances changed and I did not inform them

They have suspended my housing benefit and asked me to start a new claim including bank statements and payslips for the period I was recieving benefits to prove I was entitled to them. They've given me a month to prove this

The bank statements will be no problem but the payslips have gone (have requested copies from the employer)

A complicating factor is that due to a very difficult tenant in my house the landlord is serving an eviction notice on the property but will then write up a new tenancy in 2 months leaving out the undesired tenant.

I have 28 pounds in my bank after paying rent today, and owe bills and council tax totaling around 130 pounds.

I am at a total loss as to what to do, I'm applying to every job I see with very little response.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? I have no idea what to do really, the only ways I can get money at the moment is by busking, only have two gigs this month, only 1 is paid will be about 30 quid (minimal money) or by breaking the law which I really do not want to do.

I have a relative as my garunteur on the room I'm renting so I really don't want to cause them any trouble.

If you have any helpful advice on my situation I will be extremely grateful

Thank you

sniggings

how long have you been told you do not qualify for rent?

seem to me if you were working less than 16 hours then you would still have been entitled to housing benefit so it seems unreasonable to stop benefit for that period if you would still have been entitled to the benefit...I seem to remember this is how a few MPs got away with fiddling their expenses, claiming that if they had claimed correctly they would have been entittled to more.

Housing benefit is based on low income not entitlement to benefit so again I can not see how they can stop your benefit for that period, are you sure you understand what they are saying? have they said they are stopping payments for the period in question or do they only want to see proof of earnigs/income before they pay it?

My advice is to stop paying all bills that do not feed you or keep a roof over your head, if you have not got the rent, ring your Landlord and explain the situation, they will be more accepting of the situation if they know about it, rather than expecting the rent and you just not paying it.

You local council is now set up for these types of situation, they will have help in place, contact them, also see about how to access a food bank, some need a referral before they can help.

Try and get the info the housing is asking for, you should be able to get this withn a day or two at most, if you wages were paid into the bank then housing should accept that as proof of wages.

pmlindyloo

I am a little confused.

Did you actually stop your JSA when you started part time work or not?

If you did stop it then the HB and CT support will have stopped automatically too. Job Centre Plus notify the council and you have to phone and sort out whether you are still entitled or not. (ie. change of circumstances)

Anyway, it seems that this is all in hand and you will eventually be awarded everything and it will be backdated.

So, until then you have a dilemma because you have no money.

When you are in this situation the best thing to do is to be 'up front' with everyone. Explain the situation and ask for some leeway until your benefits are sorted. They will usually give you a month to get things in order. The beauty of this is that they will probably not put on any late charges. What creditors hate is being in the dark. So all bills and council tax. Follow up phone calls with a letter saying who you spoke to, when the call was and what was agreed. (Keep copies and send from PO keeping free receipt. Do not send recorded delivery as they can refuse to sign). This will be your 'evidence for any future hassle.

Your landlord cannot try to evict you until you are 2 months behind with your rent. Any problems with this then post again. I hope your rent is not higher than your HB. if it is then you really need to find somewhere cheaper.

If you can not borrow some money from family/friends/sell anything then go to CAB and ask to be referred to a food bank. Everything else can wait until your benefits are sorted.

Good luck!

screblet

Hi, I worded it slightly wrongly. What they were basically saying is that in there eyes I am not entitled because my circumstances changed and it is up to me to prove entitlement to all, if not most of what I received, and that I am currently liable for it until I provide proof (they've given me a month to do this which should be plenty)

It is from around the 20th of December up to my most recent payment.

They are stopping my housing benefits starting from now because they are now essentially treating it as a new claim due to the changed circumstances (even though they now the same as they were when I originally applied)

I payed my rent today so I don't have to worry about that for a month.

I will contact the council like you suggested.

I was payed into an account and I have the statements and I have requested payslips from my previous employer.

I think everything will be ok as I can't see any reason why I would not have qualified for the housing benefit.

Thanks for your advice, I guess I just have to make that 28 pounds stretch as far as I can until I secure some kind of incoming funds.

screblet

pmlindyloo wrote: »

I am a little confused.

Did you actually stop your JSA when you started part time work or not?

If you did stop it then the HB and CT support will have stopped automatically too. Job Centre Plus notify the council and you have to phone and sort out whether you are still entitled or not. (ie. change of circumstances)

Anyway, it seems that this is all in hand and you will eventually be awarded everything and it will be backdated.

So, until then you have a dilemma because you have no money.

When you are in this situation the best thing to do is to be 'up front' with everyone. Explain the situation and ask for some leeway until your benefits are sorted. They will usually give you a month to get things in order. The beauty of this is that they will probably not put on any late charges. What creditors hate is being in the dark. So all bills and council tax. Follow up phone calls with a letter saying who you spoke to, when the call was and what was agreed. (Keep copies and send from PO keeping free receipt. Do not send recorded delivery as they can refuse to sign). This will be your 'evidence for any future hassle.

Your landlord cannot try to evict you until you are 2 months behind with your rent. Any problems with this then post again. I hope your rent is not higher than your HB. if it is then you really need to find somewhere cheaper.

If you can not borrow some money from family/friends/sell anything then go to CAB and ask to be referred to a food bank. Everything else can wait until your benefits are sorted.

Good luck!

Hi, it was completely my fault in that regard. When I got the job after receiving JSA, I forgot to tell them, and when I remembered about it I checked and they had stopped payments in to my account anyway so I naively assumed that they knew due to my NI registering with a company, and that it wouldn't matter as I was not receiving anything I shouldn't have been.

I will be upfront with creditors as I don't want any summons or anything!
I hadn't thought of recording every communication, so I will be doing that, thanks.

There is one bill I feel is more important which is 46 pounds, this is because a housemate paid the whole thing upfront because it was urgent and everyones struggling a bit at the moment and I feel bad that I'm not able to pay that back as it stands.

screblet

things are looking up already, just found a tenner in one of my jackets!!

pmlindyloo

screblet wrote: »

things are looking up already, just found a tenner in one of my jackets!!

Yeah! Keep going!! Am sure there is more to be found.