Housing benefit claim terminated

sunshine1980

My sister has been claiming housing benefit for the past 3 years. She has just received a letter from them stated her claim has been terminated, the reason being that information requested has not been received.


My sister has not received any request for information from them. I assume they are wanting copy payslips or confirmation of childcare costs which she is able to provide.


She was due a payment of HB this Friday and this leaves her in a pickle financially.


The letter states she may be entitled to benefit based on her new circumstances (nothing has changed financially for her) and she can make a new claim for benefits.


Does anybody know if she phones them on Monday to get confirmation of what information they require and sends this onto them will her claim be reinstated? Or will she have to make a new claim for benefits and re-send all the information they already have eg. tenancy agreement?


Thanks in advance.

dippy3103

They may revise the decision to cancel it if they get the information they requested.

sunshine1980

Thank you Dippy. I would have thought they would but my sister is panicking. When I claimed housing benefit I sent some payslips every six months so have advised her to do this.


Thank you for replying

TELLIT01

To be brutally frank, Housing Benefit are going to find it hard to believe that your sister never received any of the requests for information, but did receive the letter telling her that payment was being stopped.
Without knowing timescales it's impossible to say whether they will be willing / able to reconsider reinstating the current claim or if a new claim will be required. If it's the new claim route, your sister may not get payment for the intervening period.

sunshine1980

TELLIT01 wrote: »

To be brutally frank, Housing Benefit are going to find it hard to believe that your sister never received any of the requests for information, but did receive the letter telling her that payment was being stopped.
Without knowing timescales it's impossible to say whether they will be willing / able to reconsider reinstating the current claim or if a new claim will be required. If it's the new claim route, your sister may not get payment for the intervening period.

Thanks for the reply Tellit01. The letter received telling her that her claim was terminated arrived in an envelope with a silver Royal Mail stamp in the right hand corner, normally the envelopes are franked. Do they normally send more than one request for information?


My sister has all her payslips and letter from child minder of her childcare costs. Her circumstances have not changed. Why would she ignore any requests for information knowing that if she did her claim would be terminated and she would be in financial difficulties? Any request for information she would have received she would comply with.


For your information, the letter advised "If you would like to make a claim for HB complete a new claim form. Provided this is completed within 4 weeks of the Benefit End Date shown above, any new award can start from the day after that date."


So my sister would not lose out on any benefit. My query was that if she did have to complete a new claim form would she have to send all the required documentation, eg tenancy agreement when the Council already have this.

nannytone_2

they send several requests for additional information plus a notice of benefit suspension before the send a termination letter

sunshine1980

nannytone wrote: »

they send several requests for additional information plus a notice of benefit suspension before the send a termination letter

Thanks nannytone. That is quite worrying as my sister has genuinely not received anything from them until this termination letter today. As I said before she would send any information requested and her circumstances have not changed. She has nothing to hide and wouldn't put herself in this position.


Maybe she will have to submit a new claim then. Hopefully she won't have to send all the information again. It does say on the letter any new claim will start the day after her old claim ended.


I will let you know what the Council have said to her when she speaks to them on Monday as, like I say, she has genuinely not received anything from them.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

First request.

2 weeks later a reminder.

After 2 weeks a Suspension letter.

7 or 14 days later claim cancelled.

When reviewing claims about 10% never responded and the claims ended up being cancelled. Those claims were not just cancelled though they were sent for investigation to see if they had a change in household or financial circumstances using other methods. Some had started work, partner moved in or changed jobs or even vacated.

sunshine1980

Housing_Benefit_Officer wrote: »

First request.

2 weeks later a reminder.

After 2 weeks a Suspension letter.

7 or 14 days later claim cancelled.

When reviewing claims about 10% never responded and the claims ended up being cancelled. Those claims were not just cancelled though they were sent for investigation to see if they had a change in household or financial circumstances using other methods. Some had started work, partner moved in or changed jobs or even vacated.

Thank you Housing Benefit Officer. As I say my sister has not received any request for information just the termination letter. She would have replied to any request as none of her circumstances have changed at all.


She has said when she spoke to a HB officer last September regarding childcare costs that they would need proof of this again the following year. She has not sent this in and wonders if this is what they may want and/or payslips?


Do you know if her claim can be reinstated once she has sent all the relevant information or will she have to start a new claim?

nannytone_2

sounds really stupid, but has she asked the address where the initial letters were sent?

a friend of mine moved and claimed HB and the council sent all the paperwork to her old address

sunshine1980

nannytone wrote: »

sounds really stupid, but has she asked the address where the initial letters were sent?

a friend of mine moved and claimed HB and the council sent all the paperwork to her old address

Hi nannytone. She has not moved address and been there 3 years. The termination letter came through to the right address. I know a few people have said that a number of letters would have been sent but they have definitely not been received by my sister. She is so honest and well organised she would have replied straight away.


It seems really odd that only termination was received not the other letters if they were sent out. She always advises of any change in circumstances eg increasing hours and childcare. She just wants her claim reinstated and I am hoping this will be the case for her.