HB problems. Need lots of support please.

[Deleted User]

Yep. have the paperwork ready. Doing it today.

Ruby_woo

How did you get on? I have been worried about you.

Always post on here as you will get good advice.
X

fed_up_and_stressed

Hope it has gone ok for you today x

help4help2013

let us know how it went we are here for you if you need anything

pineapplesherbet

Yes sweet keep going, it'll soon be sorted and you can get on with your life without the worry you are going through. Thinking of you xx

MichelleManchester

Best of luck castana. Sorry to hear about your problems.

Don't worry: everything will work out alright for you.

Try to be as strategic as possible, and carefully pre-plan every step you take.

Routing for you! xx

Bigphil1474

I had a mate who got done for HB fraud, between him and his brother they diddled the council out of £25k. That was deliberate fraud - they had to pay the money back and got suspended prison sentences. He worked for the council and was sacked. There's a huge difference between fraud and overpayment. You are expected to notify changes in circumstances, but not doing so isn't as bad as saying that circumstances haven't changed for example. If you've not provided false information, they are unlikely to prosecute for fraud. They will expect you to repay the money owed, but are usually happy to accept a reasonable repayment plan. If you work out exactly what you have received in HB over the relevant time period, that would be the maximum you'd owe, minus whatever you were entitled to. If you admit your error, arrange a repayment plan they are happy with, then no crime has been committed, no prosecution will follow, and it won't affect your employment prospects - unless you are applying for a job in benefits of course. Better to fess up now than be caught later.

Dippy1970

Ok. So you made a mistake & you can't change that. What you do have some influence over is what you do to put it right.

If you are prosecuted (and reading what you have written in all honesty I wouldn't rule it out) it will go massively in your favour if your solicitor can honestly say that as soon as you realised you advised the council. Repayment of benefit overpayments is without prejudice ie it won't prevent them from prosecuting. You almost certainly will be interviewed by a fraud officer & if that happens don't panic

I have been a benefit fraud investigator for longer than I care to remember and drawing on all that experience I can honestly say a custodial sentence is highly unlikely- I can't think of one case like yours that resulted in a custodial. Especially if you are of "previous good charecter"


Whatever you do, don't stick your head in the sand & hope this goes away. It won't, it will just get worse

Dippy1970

Ps yes you have done wrong. But I dare say your kids would rather deal with that than go to their Mum's funeral.

Take a deep breath & sort it out. Beating yourself up about it takes the time & energy you should be investing in sorting it out

Happychappy

Bollotom wrote: »

3 years at £100 (maybe) a week is only about £16000 less what you would have been entitled to anyway so just tell them you kept meaning to do it but kept putting it off. Whose bank does it go in to? And who made the original claim? You'll have to pay it back. Oh. And tell your husband the next time he doesn't bring home a payslip you'll kick him in the nuts. And make sure you put your own payslips in regularly too. They'll probably ask for bank statements and payslips anyway. :cool:

Don't worry about it, thousands and thousands of others do it, just think, your not on your own, just think of all the good times you had spending the money, there, that feels better already. :D