Help! Spent housing benefit repaying old debt

alwoowar

Hi. Ok,I know I have done a wrong thing. A debt from my past turned up demanding what was owed and was prepared to hurt me to get it. I used a large portion of my housing benefit payment to pay the debt off in full (approx £300) and i now have no way to make up the shortfall. Could anyone please offer advice as i am worried that i could lose the flat. HELP!
Please also read post by myself further down for more detail!

Poppie68

Sell whatever you can, including the device you are using to post on here....

seven-day-weekend

Can only agree. TV, computer, phone, ....sell everything until you have made up the £300.

Then use it to pay your rent.

alwoowar

A laptop that has a broken case! I have very little,maybe a little background may be a good idea. I suffer from bi polar and have recently managed to get a roof over my head after 2 1/2 yrs homelessness following the break up of my marriage. I have the bare bones together in my flat,certainly no luxuries and what i have has been either given to me or salvaged from the bins around town (Sofa,old tv,kettle etc) so worth nothing. I've been doing well since last summer,keeping the relationship with my children together and my mental health was improving. This setback is sending me into depressive thoughts and i can feel a looming crisis. My anxiety levels are thru the roof and i'm shaking as i type,bad thoughts are creeping in which is what has triggered me to seek advice.
I have always made my relationship with my kids the priority,its as much for them that i need advice and help.

misspickle_2

I'd be more careful who you borrow off in the future :eek:

Or learn to defend yourself

You'd best get yourself down the council and explain.
You won't find the solution on a forum.
Go to the council TODAY.

misspickle_2

Stop sitting there doing your head in. It won't help.
Get your coat on and be pro active, go out and speak face to face to people. Go into cab, go find a church charity, speak to the council.
Stop thinking and start doing.
Just do it!
Go on off you go!
Do do do
Don't sink, keep swimming :T
Its just a setback. That you will sort. And then you will be back on track.

pmlindyloo

Are you in social housing or private?

If you are in social housing then ask to set up a repayment plan towards the arrears (contact your housing officer)

If you are in private housing then it might be a little more difficult. If you are in a fixed term then the LL cannot try to evict you unless you have 2 months of rent arrears. If you are in a periodic tenancy then he can give you two months notice to evict you.

However, the landlord may allow you to 'catch up' by paying back a bit each month. Ask.

Another option is to ask the council about a Discretionary Housing Payment. You need to be claiming HB (which you are) and some councils will use it to pay rent arrears to prevent homelessness.

For the future please ring Stepchange (a free debt advice charity) and get your debts sorted so this doesn't happen again.

And/or have your HB paid direct to the landlord (I believe most councils will allow you to do this if you ask telling them your reasons)

alwoowar

Thanks misspickle and pmlindyloo,I'm getting up and ready to deal with this direct and heading to town in next hour.

misspickle_2

alwoowar wrote: »

Thanks misspickle and pmlindyloo,I'm getting up and ready to deal with this direct and heading to town in next hour.

Excellent :T

Don't read anymore posts before you go.

You don't want the benefit haters giving you a kicking

Onwards and upwards. Let us know how you get on. And don't come home til its sorted!

sheeps68

alwoowar wrote: »

Thanks misspickle and pmlindyloo,I'm getting up and ready to deal with this direct and heading to town in next hour.

You made a silly mistake in what you did. However I salute you for realising your mistake and taking swift action in addressing the issue so quickly. That can only go in your favour. I wish you all the very best. Well done in learning from a mistake and taking that remedial action. You should be proud of how you are taking action so quickly.

Poppie68

Don't worry about any debt that doesn't involve keeping a warm roof over your head and food in your cupboards, other debt can be dealt with after you have sorted the important stuff out....Have you done a benefit check to make sure you are claiming everything you are entitled too?