HB problems. Need lots of support please.

[Deleted User]

poorlittlefish wrote: »

I'm surprised the OP was been entitled to HB and CT benefit when they were/are both in work.

Anyway, as others have said, it's unlikely you'll go to prison by "coming clean". However, be prepared to disclose absolutely everything about your finances and have the evidence to back it up. Be aware also that investigations might already have started, particularly as there is a benefit fraud hotline/website that people can use to report suspicions. I'm afraid that ignorance or having a disorganised husband is not accepted as an excuse in fraud cases, particularly when you invariably will have signed an agreement that requires you to notify the council of any changes to your circumstances.

I can't help but think it's a bit sneaky that you only want to come clean now, just because you're after a job with the council. The council's HR department is not going to know about your dealings with the benefits team unless you tell them. However, depending on the job you are going for, if you're offered it you may have to undergo a criminal records check.

I don't work full time and I am self employed.
My H works full time but his trade is actually not well recognised and he has no formal qualifications so his salary isn't that much.
We live in a expensive city, so HB is needed for a lot of people.

Lioness_Twinkletoes

Deleted_User wrote: »

My husband left me to do everything re: administration of the house. He has no idea how much exactly he earns as he never open payslips, letters, bank statements anything.
He doesn't know how much anything costs, he has an idea on rent, he usually gets the answer wrong by £50, but he haven't got a clue how much is CT, Electricity, Water, nothing. And the majority of the direct debits come from his acc.

For a long time I organised all the papers, tried to involve him, let him know what is going on, be practical. He refuses.

Nor does mine. He pays for the food, I pay the bills. I manage all the household accounts. This, however, is no excuse for committing benefit fraud. Every time you filled in a claim form, you were signing a declaration that the facts contained therein were true.

Now you are basically saying it's not your fault because your husband left you to deal with everything. That's a poor excuse and an attempt to shift the blame. If you are unable to manage simple household finances, how are you managing your accounts, seeing as you are self employed? Surely submitting accounts and tax returns online is far harder than paying your rent and making your your not stealing tax payers money?

Take responsibility for your actions.

[Deleted User]

poorlittlefish wrote: »

I'm surprised the OP was been entitled to HB and CT benefit when they were/are both in work.

Anyway, as others have said, it's unlikely you'll go to prison by "coming clean". However, be prepared to disclose absolutely everything about your finances and have the evidence to back it up. Be aware also that investigations might already have started, particularly as there is a benefit fraud hotline/website that people can use to report suspicions. I'm afraid that ignorance or having a disorganised husband is not accepted as an excuse in fraud cases, particularly when you invariably will have signed an agreement that requires you to notify the council of any changes to your circumstances.

I can't help but think it's a bit sneaky that you only want to come clean now, just because you're after a job with the council. The council's HR department is not going to know about your dealings with the benefits team unless you tell them. However, depending on the job you are going for, if you're offered it you may have to undergo a criminal records check.

I already have a clean CRB and the job is in a school. Yes I will need another one.

pineapplesherbet

Dullville wrote: »

Absolutely Tosh..Your saying you simply forgot to update your income details for 3 years for your housing benefit and now you want to pay it back in instalments....hope they laugh at you all the way to court.

People like you ruin this site, whose side are you on? Have you led a flawless life? No because you are just human too. You have not been in this person's situation so please do not be so judgmental. Even better go and work for the government, you'd fit right in with them there.

[Deleted User]

***I can't help but think it's a bit sneaky that you only want to come clean now, just because you're after a job with the council***

Would you believe that I got the job application and the HB letter on the same day? And it was also my B'day.

[Deleted User]

Lioness_Twinkletoes wrote: »

Nor does mine. He pays for the food, I pay the bills. I manage all the household accounts. This, however, is no excuse for committing benefit fraud. Every time you filled in a claim form, you were signing a declaration that the facts contained therein were true.

Now you are basically saying it's not your fault because your husband left you to deal with everything. That's a poor excuse and an attempt to shift the blame. If you are unable to manage simple household finances, how are you managing your accounts, seeing as you are self employed? Surely submitting accounts and tax returns online is far harder than paying your rent and making your your not stealing tax payers money?

Take responsibility for your actions.

We don't have debts and we pay all the bills.
I am not saying it is his fault and that is why if someone need to be imprisioned it will be ME not him. I took the role of doing the arm and I failed on that.

Ruby_woo

Look there is a saying, "this too will pass" good or bad it passes.....

I don't know much about this type of thing but I have seen some cases where people have been overpaid child tax credits by 30,000 plus and not gone to prison. Im think child tax credit overpayments maybe seen in the same light as benefits? How much HB have you received per month and for how long? There is a HB member here who will help you I'm sure.

I'm really concerned to hear that you are feeling so suidical about this. I honestly am worried about that. Have you got someone you can talk to?

I have just found a link for you but don't know how to copy and paste it. Google benefit fraud blog and there are literally hundreds of cases so have a look.

I will be around later this afternoon if you want to pm me as nothing is worth doing anything silly over.

You haven't killed anyone. Whether you have done this on purpose or by accident, it can be sorted.

Try and rest.

X

fluffymovie

Ok this all seems a bit dramatic but first things first, take a breath.

It is possible that you will have been paid too much Housing Benefit and that once you provide the correct details, you will have to repay some or all of it.

When I recalc cases, if there has been a failure to declare of over 6 months, or £500, it is referred to our fraud section. Their job is to find out if a criminal offence has occurred and in most cases, it hasn't.

They may invite you in for an interview under caution and there are a few things that can result.

You could receive an official caution - this is not the same as a police caution and does not give you a criminal record
You could be asked to pay an admin penalty which is based on the overpayment so you would pay that back and a certain percentage on top as a form of penalty.
You could be prosecuted but as this is expensive and the test is whether we could prove that you intended to commit fraud beyond a reasonable doubt, this is the least popular option.
There could be no further action.

It is scary I know and I have to say that I am not convinced when people tell me that they forgot to update their details. You receive new letters every year with your new award and so have ample opportunity to check the income being used.

But it is simple to get the process started and you may find that the outcome isn't all that bad!

atrixblue.-MFR-.

I find it hard to believe you genuinely forgot you were in receipt of HB, you get yearly notices, plus you get survey questionairs when theres changes to the HB structure such as the "bedroom tax" questionnaire for E.G that if not filled in could lead to suspension of the HB depending the council in question.
When I got married the first thing I did was inform HRMC and DWP of my change in status not that it changed my receipt of benefit but because I didn't want to be caught up in a technicality in the future.
Its my obligation, ignorance of not notifying of changes is not a form of defense, nor is it an excuse.


As said voluntary admissions tend to go along way in how the council deal with you, 3 years is allot of money in HB and the one thing the council will want to investigate is how did you not call them when you received letters from them, they will also look to see if you have called during this period to query non payments and had them reinstated from you telling non truths or supplied information to them when requested to do so during this period.


As far as I'm aware its not costly to pass a case of fraud to the CPS when someone has come clean and there is infact evidence to suggest there is intent to defraud. it become costly when someone is placed into surveillance and months of investigative work is carried out.




but as stated its upto the council to decide how they proceed with you and how lenient they are with voluntaries.

Ruby_woo

Casthana, are you ok?