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Housing benefit pickle

Avocadotoast
Posts: 39 Forumite
Hi,
I've been in receipt of hb for a few months now. During that time a house that I was no longer able to live in due to health reasons was on the market. It was in arrears and I had arrears statements from the lender that showed arrears had taken it into negative equity. Therefore no savings.
However, as it came to the sale completing it turned out that I ended up getting 9k paid into my bank account.It may be that my ex - joint homeowner - had continued to contribute and for some reason that wasn't declared to me even though I asked the lender about it. If so, it didn't show up on the mortgage online account page and the arrears statements clearly show full monthly arrears for each month missed.
So, I'm so worried now. Clearly I had savings I didn't know about and I had and submitted evidence that looked 100% clear from the lender.
What's my best course of action? Simply declare, explain, pay back? Am I going to end up in a hell of a lot of trouble here? Really concerned.
Thanks, Avo
I've been in receipt of hb for a few months now. During that time a house that I was no longer able to live in due to health reasons was on the market. It was in arrears and I had arrears statements from the lender that showed arrears had taken it into negative equity. Therefore no savings.
However, as it came to the sale completing it turned out that I ended up getting 9k paid into my bank account.It may be that my ex - joint homeowner - had continued to contribute and for some reason that wasn't declared to me even though I asked the lender about it. If so, it didn't show up on the mortgage online account page and the arrears statements clearly show full monthly arrears for each month missed.
So, I'm so worried now. Clearly I had savings I didn't know about and I had and submitted evidence that looked 100% clear from the lender.
What's my best course of action? Simply declare, explain, pay back? Am I going to end up in a hell of a lot of trouble here? Really concerned.
Thanks, Avo
0
Comments
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So long as you acted honestly, and as you say the paperwork genuinely backed up what you were saying you won't be in trouble. You might need to repay some but worst case scenario that would put you in the position you already thought that you were in (with no equity).
Give housing benefit a ring tomorrow or even better go and see them and sort it out so that you don't worry about it.0 -
Thank you W06. You're right, there's only one way to find out! I'll call them tomorrow.0
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