Scared to claim - don't want flatmates or landlord to find out

dippy3103

The council will only contact your landlord if there is any doubt about the information you supply about your rent. If you provide your tenancy agreement then use your bank statements to show the amount you have been paying.
Good luck xx

Morglin

ARCOrbit wrote: »

Thank you so much for your advice! And I know you're right. I'm working myself up into such a panic over this, and I've already been spending weeks panicking about my health problems!

Okay, so I'll make a claim for ESA. Would it be best to print out the form from their website or do it over the phone?

Sorry for all the questions.

I would print off the form, collate any medical evidence you have, (copies of doctors reports, whatever, if it gives more details), your Fit Note from the GP, think about any additional info you can supply, and then send it all off, by recorded or Special Delivery.

Housing Benefit forms, I believe, can be obtained from the benefits department of your local council.

Lin

ARCOrbit

Morglin wrote: »

I would print off the form, collate any medical evidence you have, (copies of doctors reports, whatever, if it gives more details), your Fit Note from the GP, think about any additional info you can supply, and then send it all off, by recorded or Special Delivery.

Housing Benefit forms, I believe, can be obtained from the benefits department of your local council.

Lin

Thank you again for your reply. I know I shouldn't worry or panic but can't help it. It's partly because getting help for my health issues has been such a difficult battle. At first the doctors were trying to brush it off and dismiss it as nothing serious - and I was desperately begging them to refer me because I told them I didn't want to be unable to work.

This actually is making me panic more. I don't know if I'm worrying unnecessarily - particularly because my claim should hopefully only be for a short period (I'm pinning so much hope on the treatment working when I see the consultant!).

But, my concern is that the first consultant I saw has lied about some of the effects of my condition (I had to take it up with the hospital complaints department). He didn't examine me properly and was actually very rude. I don't know whether it's best to omit his initial report? His report does confirm my diagnosis - but it also claims that I am able to do something that I'm not. It was very upsetting because I feel I've had to wait even longer for treatment (I think I would have seen the specialist sooner if he hadn't downplayed my problems). And it's also upsetting because I could have started working again sooner if I'd had treatment sooner.

I'm actually thinking of using my mobile phone to record my appointment with the specialist - although it's a different person and I don't want to get his back up so I'm still thinking about this.

I actually told him - and my GP - many times that this is something causing me the greatest concern, and it was actually what prompted me to seek medical help in the first place).

The alternative is to wait until I see the specialist and then use his report? I am running out of money but a few more weeks might not make much difference.

I just don't know what to do. The GP and the first consultant don't deny I have the condition - and there are other effects (apart from the one the consultant lied about). Maybe I'm worrying too much - but what happens if I claim now and it's turned down. How would I claim again once I have the accurate report (from the specialist)? Does it become an appeal or a new claim? And would it help if I include notes regarding my complaint to the hospital (and maybe a letter from the PALs people who helped me)?

Sorry for all these questions.

ARCOrbit

dippy3103 wrote: »

The council will only contact your landlord if there is any doubt about the information you supply about your rent. If you provide your tenancy agreement then use your bank statements to show the amount you have been paying.
Good luck xx

Thank you! I tend to worry too much and I think I'm being overly paranoid - but what if the landlord isn't totally above board? I think he is but a friend has questioned why the landlord would pay the council tax himself.

He has written the amount of council tax we pay on the tenancy agreement (and adds it to the rent - so we pay the total amount of rent plus council tax) - so if he was dodgy, i.e. claiming single person discount or something, would he state the amount on the tenancy agreement? Wouldn't he just say something like "includes council tax"?

We don't receive the council tax demand or any letter from the council for him here. But I can't help worrying because it does look like we're paying less than the total amount of council tax for this property. And if there is anything up, the council might contact him?

DigForVictory

Honey, your health takes priority over your landlords possible illegality. Do not delay getting that registered postal package off - you need the help & I've *never* seen a council move rapidly.

Besides which, he may be lawabiding. Get the paperwork together & posted with all the signed for trackability you can afford.

ARCOrbit

DigForVictory wrote: »

Honey, your health takes priority over your landlords possible illegality. Do not delay getting that registered postal package off - you need the help & I've *never* seen a council move rapidly.

Besides which, he may be lawabiding. Get the paperwork together & posted with all the signed for trackability you can afford.

Thank you and I do really appreciate your reply. I get what you're saying. The landlord is fairly decent so I wouldn't want to get him into trouble. But the main problem for me is that if he was up to anything and my claiming LHA prompted the council to investigate him - he wouldn't renew my tenancy! And where I live, rents are very high and of course finding somewhere on benefits (or even a lowish income) is very hard.

I think to be safe, I'll just claim ESA for now. I've got just enough savings left to pay the rent until the tenancy is renewed. And hopefully I'll get better by then so won't have to claim anything. But at least if I'm not better, I'll have a tenancy agreement in place.

NYM

ARCOrbit wrote: »

Thank you! I tend to worry too much and I think I'm being overly paranoid - but what if the landlord isn't totally above board? I think he is but a friend has questioned why the landlord would pay the council tax himself.

He has written the amount of council tax we pay on the tenancy agreement (and adds it to the rent - so we pay the total amount of rent plus council tax) - so if he was dodgy, i.e. claiming single person discount or something, would he state the amount on the tenancy agreement? Wouldn't he just say something like "includes council tax"?

We don't receive the council tax demand or any letter from the council for him here. But I can't help worrying because it does look like we're paying less than the total amount of council tax for this property. And if there is anything up, the council might contact him?

If the property you co-rent is classed as an HMO House in Multiple Occupation then the Landlord is responsible for the Council Tax. ( I believe your tenancy has to be of 6 months or less)

ARCOrbit

NYM wrote: »

If the property you co-rent is classed as an HMO House in Multiple Occupation then the Landlord is responsible for the Council Tax. ( I believe your tenancy has to be of 6 months or less)

I'm pretty sure this flat isn't classed as HMO. Our area has a high demand for housing especially affordable housing and the local council doesn't class 3 people sharing a flat or house as an HMO. Our tenancy is for 18 months but due for renewal fairly soon.

Morglin

ARCOrbit wrote: »

Thank you again for your reply. I know I shouldn't worry or panic but can't help it. It's partly because getting help for my health issues has been such a difficult battle. At first the doctors were trying to brush it off and dismiss it as nothing serious - and I was desperately begging them to refer me because I told them I didn't want to be unable to work.

This actually is making me panic more. I don't know if I'm worrying unnecessarily - particularly because my claim should hopefully only be for a short period (I'm pinning so much hope on the treatment working when I see the consultant!).

But, my concern is that the first consultant I saw has lied about some of the effects of my condition (I had to take it up with the hospital complaints department). He didn't examine me properly and was actually very rude. I don't know whether it's best to omit his initial report? His report does confirm my diagnosis - but it also claims that I am able to do something that I'm not. It was very upsetting because I feel I've had to wait even longer for treatment (I think I would have seen the specialist sooner if he hadn't downplayed my problems). And it's also upsetting because I could have started working again sooner if I'd had treatment sooner.

I'm actually thinking of using my mobile phone to record my appointment with the specialist - although it's a different person and I don't want to get his back up so I'm still thinking about this.

I actually told him - and my GP - many times that this is something causing me the greatest concern, and it was actually what prompted me to seek medical help in the first place).

The alternative is to wait until I see the specialist and then use his report? I am running out of money but a few more weeks might not make much difference.

I just don't know what to do. The GP and the first consultant don't deny I have the condition - and there are other effects (apart from the one the consultant lied about). Maybe I'm worrying too much - but what happens if I claim now and it's turned down. How would I claim again once I have the accurate report (from the specialist)? Does it become an appeal or a new claim? And would it help if I include notes regarding my complaint to the hospital (and maybe a letter from the PALs people who helped me)?

Sorry for all these questions.

No, get the form off, as you can always send them further information later.

Give as much info as possible with how your illness affects you.

The assessment could take months (you will be paid until then, providing you send in a fit Notes), you may or may not need a medical examination, but there will be plenty of time to gather any additional info anyway.

You may even be better by then, and want to return to work!

Take one step at a time - download form and fill it out!

Post by recorded or special delivery.

Lin

ARCOrbit

Morglin wrote: »

No, get the form off, as you can always send them further information later.

Give as much info as possible with how your illness affects you.

The assessment could take months (you will be paid until then, providing you send in a fit Notes), you may or may not need a medical examination, but there will be plenty of time to gather any additional info anyway.

You may even be better by then, and want to return to work!

Take one step at a time - download form and fill it out!

Post by recorded or special delivery.

Lin

Thank you so much. It's so helpful to have any advice as I've been getting myself into such a state and feeling so lost.

It's just been a nightmare. Dealing with money and benefits on top of everything else just makes it worse.

I feel like I've been banging my head against a brick wall with getting treatment. It's so frustrating because I'm desperate to just try and work again and the doctors don't seem to care. I kept pushing for treatment - and told them it was because I didn't want to end up unable to work.

Hopefully I'm getting somewhere...I haven't long to go before starting treatment. And hopefully that will get me well enough to work.

I'll get started on the form. Thank you for your help and advice.