Housing Benefit?

Mr0

Hello.

I appologise if this is posted in the wrong section.

I dont claim benefits myself, but 2 years ago I received a benefits assessment at my address (my dad's house really) for someone I dont know. I cant remember what the first claim letter said, but I think that the person is claiming to be a tennant of mine and wants to claim housing benefit of £1200 a month.

This could be just a mixup in postal address, but i just want to make sure.

I called the local council last year and posted the letter back to them. They said to leave it. I called the national fraud hotline today when the next year's assessment came and they also said to not bother about it?!? I thought benefitst fraud is a big deal right now, are they not even going to check?

What else can I do? My dad is worried that the taxman might treat him as a landlord not declaring his rental income.

pmlindyloo

Mr0 wrote: »

Hello.

I appologise if this is posted in the wrong section.

I dont claim benefits myself, but 2 years ago I received a benefits assessment at my address (my dad's house really) for someone I dont know. I cant remember what the first claim letter said, but I think that the person is claiming to be a tennant of mine and wants to claim housing benefit of £1200 a month.

This could be just a mixup in postal address, but i just want to make sure.

I called the local council last year and posted the letter back to them. They said to leave it. I called the national fraud hotline today when the next year's assessment came and they also said to not bother about it?!? I thought benefitst fraud is a big deal right now, are they not even going to check?

What else can I do? My dad is worried that the taxman might treat him as a landlord not declaring his rental income.

I know this makes perfect sense to you but I can't get my head round it - sorry.

So, you live in rented accommodation and your dad is your landlord?

You received a letter - a benefit assessment? - who was it addressed to and what did it say?

Someone is claiming HB at a property that you rent out or you dad rents out?

Please clarify with more details!

StormyWeather_2

Someone's trying to claim HB for the property that the OP's dad owns. Presumably the OP lives there too.

Mr0, you've informed the relevant authorities. You don't need to do any more. They won't tell you if they are pursuing a fraud case.

BTW, you shouldn't have opened post that wasn't addressed to you. You should cross out the address, put return to sender or not known at this address and give it back to the postman.

Mr0

My dad owns a property. It is a shop with flats ontop. I am running a business from the shop at the moment. Me and my dad live here. I dont pay any rent, and dont claim any benefits, though I do pay for all expenses. My dad is semi-retired at the moment and not really looking to work anymore.

Someone else, fraudulently or not (could be just letter sent to wrong address), is claiming housing benefit for our address.

I cant remember exactly what the first claim letter said, it was over a year ago and I sent it back to the council back then. The recent letter is an assessment with the amount of benefits that person will be paid. I have never claimed housing benefit before so I dont know how the system works.

You could say I shouldnt have opened letters not addressed to me, but I always get people with credit card debts etc using my address and always having to chase them up and say they dont live here, but this is the first time I am getting a benefit one.

StormyWeather_2

Is it the same name as last year's letter? Maybe put something in writing to the housing benefit office. That there is only you and your dad in the property, the person who is claiming is not known at your address and that you believe they are claiming fraudulently.

Tell your dad not to worry. They can't hold him responsible for someone else's fraud.

I'm surprised they haven't taken any action so far.

Caz3121

Mr0 wrote: »

What else can I do? My dad is worried that the taxman might treat him as a landlord not declaring his rental income.

from another post, your father has a property that he rents out for £30k per annum...he is declaring this isn't he?

Mr0

Caz3121 wrote: »

from another post, your father has a property that he rents out for £30k per annum...he is declaring this isn't he?

Yes he does, I do his tax returns for him. It is his only income at the moment.

I dont remember what the first letter said exactly, but it was a confirmation that their benefits claim was aproved and how he will be paid.

When I called the council and the other line, they didnt even bother taking my address or any other details. I guess I could just go to one of those one stop shops next time.

specialboy

StormyWeather wrote: »

Someone's trying to claim HB for the property that the OP's dad owns. Presumably the OP lives there too.

Mr0, you've informed the relevant authorities. You don't need to do any more. They won't tell you if they are pursuing a fraud case.

BTW, you shouldn't have opened post that wasn't addressed to you. You should cross out the address, put return to sender or not known at this address and give it back to the postman.

There's no law stopping you opening someone else's mail that comes to your address.

StormyWeather_2

blondebubbles wrote: »

According to citizen advice it is - http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/consumer_w/consumer_post_e/consumer_problems_with_post_e/consumer_problems_with_post_delivery_e/youre_receiving_someone_elses_mail.htm

If there is no return address visible, Royal Mail has a returned letter centre in Belfast where they are allowed to open the mail in an attempt to identify the sender so they can return it

Thanks, I didn't know that. I wondered what would happen if there wasn't an address on the back of the envelope.

specialboy

Citizens advice are not always correct, as long as you don't intend any detriment towards the intended recipient you can open the mail without fear of breaking the law.

84Interfering with the mail: general.

(1)A person commits an offence if, without reasonable excuse, he—
(a)intentionally delays or opens a postal packet in the course of its transmission by post, or
(b)intentionally opens a mail-bag.
(2)Subsections (2) to (5) of section 83 apply to subsection (1) above as they apply to subsection (1) of that section.
(3)A person commits an offence if, intending to act to a person’s detriment and without reasonable excuse, he opens a postal packet which he knows or reasonably suspects has been incorrectly delivered to him.
(4)Subsections (2) and (3) of section 83 (so far as they relate to the opening of postal packets) apply to subsection (3) above as they apply to subsection (1) of that section.
(5)A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) or (3) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.

Morglin

Mr0 wrote: »

Yes he does, I do his tax returns for him. It is his only income at the moment.

I dont remember what the first letter said exactly, but it was a confirmation that their benefits claim was aproved and how he will be paid.

When I called the council and the other line, they didnt even bother taking my address or any other details. I guess I could just go to one of those one stop shops next time.

Write to the housing benefit department, (head it up for the attention of the manager) explaining all this and send the letter recorded or special delivery.

Keep a copy, together with the slip, and track online when it is delivered, making a note of that as well.

That way, you have covered yourself and your dad from any come back.

Housing benefit departments are often gloriously inept and careless!

Lin