Housing Benefit help please

brovahelpa

Last week a chap turned up at my front door from DWP Performance Measurement Team. Said he'd come to review my HB.(£50/wk) I was astounded to come out of the blue, tho he said I'd been sent a letter which I never received.
He said my name had been picked at random !!! Anyway he was quite happy to reschedule for next week for the benefit review.
I've now got myself in a real tiz. I've always been totally honest since claiming 5yrs ago. (I'm a pensioner 71yrs) Even a 40p increase in my NHS pension they were informed of.
Is this a normal thing to happen.? How many bank statements will he want to see ?. How long does the review take.? Is this just a review or an investigation.?
Any advise please.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

brovahelpa wrote: »

Last week a chap turned up at my front door from DWP Performance Measurement Team. Said he'd come to review my HB.(£50/wk) I was astounded to come out of the blue, tho he said I'd been sent a letter which I never received.
He said my name had been picked at random !!! Anyway he was quite happy to reschedule for next week for the benefit review.
I've now got myself in a real tiz. I've always been totally honest since claiming 5yrs ago. (I'm a pensioner 71yrs) Even a 40p increase in my NHS pension they were informed of.
Is this a normal thing to happen.? How many bank statements will he want to see ?. How long does the review take.? Is this just a review or an investigation.?
Any advise please.

Here you go paragraph 13 onwards - randomly selected to check if your claim is correct and you are receiving the correct amount of benefit.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/226836/g1-2013.pdf

[Deleted User]

Sounds like a normal review and NOTHING to worry about, as many bank statements as possible is the answer but at least 3 and prefer 6.
Please don't worry, if you have nothing to hide all will be fine.

merlin68

https://www.gov.uk/dwp-visit

McKneff

Its a random thing to check that you are recieving the correct beneits. Its nothing to worry about.
They are not out to prove you are cheating, its also possible when they do the check that some people are not receiving money/benetit that they are entitled to.

Relax

kingfisherblue

I had this a few years ago. The chap was friendly and polite. He checked my benefits, confirmed that my son still lived at home (I claim a disability discount because we have a wetroom downstairs for my son's use), and went on his way. It took about twenty minutes.


I was chosen at random because I claim Council Tax benefit. It was painless and it was confirmed that I was claiming the benefits that I was entitled to.

brovahelpa

Thank you for your replies, I feel bit happier.
I shall wait to see what happens. Perhaps they will say I'm not getting enough: LOL

brovahelpa

Hi All.

The DWP chap came and did his deed. Was here about 40 mins and appeared happy with what I gave/told him.
The only thing that worried me a bit was he said it would be up to the LA to decide if me using up some of my savings was a deliberate thing to get more HB. It certainly wasn't. Over the past 5 years I have had several expenditures, which has used up about £4000 savings. Ah well, I'll have to wait and see what happens.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

brovahelpa wrote: »

Hi All.

The DWP chap came and did his deed. Was here about 40 mins and appeared happy with what I gave/told him.
The only thing that worried me a bit was he said it would be up to the LA to decide if me using up some of my savings was a deliberate thing to get more HB. It certainly wasn't. Over the past 5 years I have had several expenditures, which has used up about £4000 savings. Ah well, I'll have to wait and see what happens.

£4,000 over 5 years isn't anything that would be looked at. Or at least nothing I would be concerned with!

brovahelpa

Gosh thanks HB officer. That makes me feel better. I'm not very up on benefits having worked all my life. Luckily I haven't needed state help.
Thanks again.