Help for a friend

pixiehouse

My friend gets Employment support allowance. Her housing Benefit has been stopped because her son that lives with her is in full time work. She then had a letter to say she has been over paid by £1400 and they are taking out £21.90 a fortnight out of her ESA. She cant claim council tax benefits as her son lives with her an working. so basically he is paying the rent and they say he should pay the council tax. 1 daughter at home in full time education so she gets child tax credit. so for her to pay the £21.90 a fortnight it puts her below the poverty line. any advice welcome please as to what she can do? Thank you

bargainbetty

She needs to apply for an appointment with an advisor at her local office and go in, with all her paperwork. She can apply for a reduced repayment term, since she is on ESA. If an adult in the house is earning above the threshold, then the household doesn't qualify for other benefits. Can she work a few hours a week (below the threshold) to bring in extra income?

National_Debtline

Hi pixiehouse

Yes, your friend can appeal to the local authority for the rate at which this is recovered to be slowed down or stopped altogether, depending on the amount of financial hardship it causes.

There is guidance issued to all local authorities reminding them that they must take any "special" health and/or financial circumstances into account when deciding how quickly an overpayment will be clawed back.

Your friend should provide them with as detailed a financial statement as possible, and as bargainbetty says above, it would be useful for her to do so with the help of a local advisor.

Regards

Dennis
@natdebtline

pixiehouse

Thank you so much for your help National Debtline. I will phone her now and tell her what you have said- sadly she cant work as she has had B Cancer and hoping she will soon have the all clear . Once again thank you x

National_Debtline

Hi ph

You're welcome. If all else fails, it may be worth looking into a Debt Relief Order, especially if your friend has other debts besides this one.

Wishing your friend a full recovery

Dennis
@natdebtline

pixiehouse

Catch up- My friend is now waiting to hear back after talking to CAB
Thank you for your help- Fingers crossed it will sort itself out now