We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Housing benefit stopped as they think I moved!

I am stressing out as it came on the worst date, its my 30th today and been literally saving the pennies for months to afford a few £1 drinks in local club

All I knew was I had a missed call from LL and a council tax bill on my doorstep but as I have was up all night coughing I didn't get to sleep to around 6am so woke up around 1pm and when I opened letter I noticed it was for a bill, tried ringing council but never got through to just before 4 when they close to say they think I moved out but as long as I can prove I am still living here it will be reinstated.

They wanted utility bills but all I have is my landline phone bill, they did say its fine but its a Ebill so worry they will change mind.

Just freaking out as its not the best thing to hear on your birthday especially when I have anxiety issues and depression.

Just wanted a little advice from people.
«13

Comments

  • nannytone_2
    nannytone_2 Posts: 12,999 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    an online bill is fine
    i dot understand why a call from your LL and a council tax bill are relevant?
    mybe you need to spend your pennies on bills rather than a drinkie.
  • marleyboy
    marleyboy Posts: 16,698 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Is it a HMO else how else do you not have any utility bills?
    :A:dance:1+1+1=1:dance::A
    "Marleyboy you are a legend!"
    MarleyBoy "You are the Greatest"
    Marleyboy You Are A Legend!
    Marleyboy speaks sense
    marleyboy (total legend)
    Marleyboy - You are, indeed, a legend.
  • artiefo
    artiefo Posts: 11 Forumite
    marleyboy wrote: »
    Is it a HMO else how else do you not have any utility bills?
    I have pre pay meters, the only bill I get is landline/broadband which is ebilling.
    nannytone wrote: »
    an online bill is fine
    i dot understand why a call from your LL and a council tax bill are relevant?
    mybe you need to spend your pennies on bills rather than a drinkie.

    I do, that is why I have pennies left after paying them if I didn't I could splash out, the call from LL was to mention about they were contacted(and LL never contacts me so it raised flags) and since CT bill showed full amount without CT Benefit I put 2 and 2 together to assume my benefits were stopped which I was correct.

    To be clear I HAVE been paying my CT up to now but they have stopped benefit as theres a doubt so then issued a new higher bill.
  • Life is to short, have a couple of drinks then knuckle under, happy birthday, sorry it's not much! x


    d9965ca07ab294cd1031f1192e131e2b.jpg
  • happy birthday....and where do they sell these £1 drinks?
  • artiefo
    artiefo Posts: 11 Forumite
    Handed in all the information last week and gave it to today to contact them and be told my claim is still closed since they now have evidence I have moved! I said to them that they can come round to my property to confirm I live here, and see all the furniture I have etc.

    Also I found out that the "new" authority took the claim without any id, and the place they claim I stay is student accomodation where they also do not ask for any id, so I worry that it may be identity fraud, still the way I was treated by the housing office is basically I was overpaid therefore my claim is closed.
  • NYM
    NYM Posts: 4,066 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    You got a remarkable amount of information regarding the 'other' claim :think:

    If the other LA hasn't checked ID and the Student Accommodation hasn't checked ID either... how is it linked to you?
  • artiefo
    artiefo Posts: 11 Forumite
    It was because the person on phone let it slip what the council was and part of the address so I rang the council in question who just asked my name, NI number and date of birth and when I enquired and told them the problem, they were confused, I did find out a little more information that way such as the full address but they confirmed a few things like the claim was open for months and the person has moved 3 times in 3 months(shouldnt that alone raise flags) Each time to places of short term accomodation, I then phoned up the last place they stayed (since their claim is now closed anyway and they have moved) and pretended to be someone interested to move in and to move in all you need is pay deposit by cash or card and fill in a online tenancy agreement(so not even a signature needed) Also the council told me they did not ask for any id as they get all their details from the DWP about what benefits you claim so all they have is a signed declaration (which if someone knows my signature isnt much of a stretch) What they did tell me what was interesting was that originally they thought it was a mistake because the fake claim was in limbo because they were waiting for some information and the information was handed in last week, if it wasnt for that there would of been no problem reinstating my claim. When I asked the other council about this they said it was a tenancy agreement they had been waiting for 2 months to get, so basically since this person has given a tenancy agreement it has caused problems even though they handed it in the same day they moved out. All I am hoping is the council has CCTV or the student accomodation, any idea how long they keep them? What the main worry is until its sorted I will not get housing benefit so it will stock up.
  • NYM
    NYM Posts: 4,066 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    As I said...a remarkable amount of info...

    Your NI number is unique to you. If the other LA has your NI number, presumably the applicant would have had to provide the proof?

    It's not unknown for Students to move many times - especially if they don't 'get on' with the other tenants.
  • artiefo
    artiefo Posts: 11 Forumite
    Not these days, when I applied for where I live now I did not have provide any proof nor did the last few places I lived all saying that they can just get the info from dwp, and when I asked that council they said the same thing, the last time I did was about 6 years ago I had to show benefit letter and bank statement but things have changed since then and I was told all computer systems are linked.

    And I forgot to mention part of the reason I moved here last year was because I was getting identity theft on myself including benefit letters stolen, giro stolen, credit cards and catalogs in my name.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 352K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.5K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454.2K Spending & Discounts
  • 245K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 600.6K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.4K Life & Family
  • 258.8K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.