HB problems. Need lots of support please.

dippy3103

Deleted_User wrote: »

Now I have a opportunity to get a job, stop being self employed and carry on working instead of claiming and now it is dishonest and possibly fraudulent too.
I can't win no matter what I do.
But I know I can't complain really, it is all my fault in the first place.

What do you mean?

Blackpool_Saver

This is not making sense, I suspect a troll now, or the OP is mentally unwell and confused.

specialboy

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

This is not making sense, I suspect a troll now, or the OP is mentally unwell and confused.

Careful, I mentioned that on the first page and my post was removed by the post-police.

[Deleted User]

I wish I was a joker and it was all fantasy, but unfortunately for me it isn't.
Thanks for all the help and for not being nasty to me.

I know people are getting frustrated and are not believing my intentions, but I imagine that all of you never been in my situation and don't understand how daunting and scary it can be. Specially because I have a child.
But I am not making excuses at all, I know it is all my fault and I want to take full responsibility. However, I need to know what I am doing and try not to make any more mistakes, that is why I keep asking and researching. I need to organise my finances first.

I have two more questions, can anyone answer please?

When I call them, HB will stop payments immediately and they will wait for paperwork, once they get paperwork they will either accept it and come up with a repayment process and fines or open an investigation, is that right?
Meanwhile, what if we struggle to pay the rent?
Believe or not my business is slow at the moment, hence getting the other job and I am not making the amount of money that I once did (and failed to update HB).
Also, I need to inform them my income before tax right? I am self employed and pay tax once a year (did it wrongly anyway, hence appointment with accountant) so how will HB work out my take home pay, after all the taxes?
H's finances are more straightforwards as he has all the paperwork already worked out by his employment.

Also I am sorry, I know that I am in the wrong here, but I think it is absolutely unfair that they will prosecute even if I come forward voluntarily, with my books open and wiling to pay back everything I owe.

Anyway, I have now all my income down on paper since the beginning of my business and will see the accountant soon.

dippy3103

What will happen is your benefit would be suspended whilst they establish your correct entitlement. Once they have all the evidence they need to asses your case they will work out both what you have been overpaid and also any current entitlement. If you don't approach them now then the overpayment will continue. In any event once they receive your documents they will suspend your benefit until they do the calculation.

If you struggle to pay your rent then inform your landlord- most social housing providers understand that claims get suspended. If your landlord is private he may be less understanding. Your HB is going to go down anyway.

Why is it unfair if you get prosecuted? You have not reported changes over a period of 3 years- during that time you will have had letters from them setting out their calculations & reminding you if your obligation to report all changes in circumstances. You failed to do so and that's an offence. Being disorganised and forgetting is an explanation but not a defence. The offence doesn't go away just because you have made a voluntary disclosure. If somebody robbed a bank and then 3 years later walked into a police station and admitted to it would the police do nothing? Not likening what you have done to robbing a bank, just using it as an example.

Having said that it will still look better for you if you go to them rather than leave it until they query your income and start an investigation.

Besides they havn't said they will prosecute you yet. Why don't you deal with the immediate issue and contact them rather than worrying about something that might not happen? You don't even know how big the overpayment is yet.

Ruby_woo

I am so relieved to hear that you are ok.

Firstly, I know that you are scared but please seek help for your anxiety as well as the overpayment.

Secondly, you must have an idea of the overpayment, what is it roughly?

If you cant estimate it, work out how much HB you have received on here for someone to try and help you?

Please keep posting, you will get help here.x

Housing_Benefit_Officer

If the previous Labour Government hadn't scrapped the annual reviews of Housing Benefit then these sort of cases wouldn't happen.

I recon about 50% of working benefit claimants are being overpaid as their earnings details can in some cases be 3 or 4 or more years old.

Of course the fault is the claimants for not keeping the Local Authority up to date on their financial circumstances.

dippy3103

Housing_Benefit_Officer wrote: »

If the previous Labour Government hadn't scrapped the annual reviews of Housing Benefit then these sort of cases wouldn't happen.

I recon about 50% of working benefit claimants are being overpaid as their earnings details can in some cases be 3 or 4 or more years old.

Of course the fault is the claimants for not keeping the Local Authority up to date on their financial circumstances.

Couldn't agree more. Although the onus is still on the clm't to report changes. Even if they just had to return a tear off slip on the end of year letter confirming the details are correct it would be better than nothing.

SandraScarlett

OP, you told us you had everything ready to go to the council last Monday, then didn't. A further week has elapsed, and you still haven't done anything. This isn't going to go away, and it's no use saying you're going to get in touch with your accountant.


How do the council know this if you don't tell them? People have given you a lot of advice, but if you choose to ignore it, then you'll have to accept the consequences. I'm out of here.


xx

Elle7

OP - please go to the council.

You've waited a week now - the longer you wait, aware that you are being overpaid, the more like fraud this looks. If it was a mistake, you'd come clean straight away - do that.