Housing benefit suspended - really worried I've messed up, help!

Reallyworried

I am a single parent and a full time student on a long course. I made a claim for child tax credits and housing benefit around 5 years ago. I had a terrible delay when it was first approved and had no money at all for a very long time as I also had no student finance approved and recall having to borrow £5 from a friend & pick up discarded rail tickets from the floor to get by.

The claim has seemed to auto renew itself and I have never been asked to provide anything. I received a letter now suspending my housing benefit and requesting statements from all accounts and information as to how I have met my living expenses since April 2016, and if someone has helped with food or money to state who and when this started and provide a letter as proof. I received another letter saying HB was suspended as there was a doubt about the amount of my entitlement.

I currently have no student finance and I do not work, and the housing benefit has never covered the rent which is private rented. I have found it next to impossible to move house while a student with a child as everywhere here requires a big lump sum deposit for students or that plus willing guarantors.

I have had help from my child's father but this has been irregular, he has been unwell and we were not on good terms when we separated. I have also had financial help from my mother for living expenses and for things like bills and course fees which was to stop when I receive another form of funding. These payments have all gone into my account.

I had looked a long time ago on what was to be declared and the information I found was that income from family or charity etc (not as in savings, but as in gifts/donations which are then spent immediately on outgoings) was not relevant.

I am now absolutely terrified I have made a mistake. Does anyone know if voluntary payments from relatives are going to land me in huge trouble? I wish I had never claimed anything at the moment the stress is seriously affecting me.

I have definitely received no other payments into my account, no other payments in cash, and have not been working in any paid employment for this period of time.

I don't know how to respond really or what this means. I'm so so worried. Thanks

Alice_Holt

Voluntary payments should be disregarded as income for HB purposes.
e.g http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/200008/benefits_andamp_support/4276/the_money_we_count_when_we_work_out_housing_benefit_and_council_tax_support/3

I would provide all the info they have asked for.
Perhaps you could arrange an appointment with the HB office, take all paperwork in and explain your circumstances.

They will want to check that there are no sources of income which should have been declared. It's likely to be a standard check - if you currently have little declared income. (But there are other posters on here who will be able to give you more info - such as Housing Benefit Officer & CIS).

Your local CAB / advice agency may be able to help.
Shelter may also be helpful.
https://england.shelter.org.uk/get_help

Try not to get too anxious. Just concentrate on getting the all the info. Letters / confirmation from family members of financial assistance may be helpful.

Topcat1982

I received a letter now suspending my housing benefit and requesting statements from all accounts and information as to how I have met my living expenses since April 2016, and if someone has helped with food or money to state who and when this started and provide a letter as proof.

Just do this, there's no problem. They want proof that the money's a gift from family and not a secret job

Reallyworried

I am so stressed. At times it has been a lot of help because of multiple things going out (like outrageous British gas bills that I still think were wrong, and university fees) - my mother remains hopeful I will pay her back when I qualify. I am just so so worried! If I get into trouble this would destroy my career before it's started. I had a real problem with my ex because I left in part due to domestic violence and his help cannot be relied upon as regular help as he regularly decides not to pay or is unable to pay because he has landed himself in hospital (a real catch!) and there is no formal agreement to pay anything. Arh
Thank you I guess there is no other answer than to do as they've asked. <sleepless nights await>

Alice_Holt

I would contact them ASAP.

The longer you wait the longer you are without HB.
Concentrate on getting this sorted.

If you have no hidden income (i.e. a job you haven't declared) you have little to stress about.

Guidance clearly says "Charitable or voluntary payments are disregarded. For example, this could include payments from a charity, a voluntary organisation, or family and friends. "
To avoid this stress in future it is worth notifying them, so such gifts are recorded.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Reallyworried wrote: »

I am a single parent and a full time student on a long course. I made a claim for child tax credits and housing benefit around 5 years ago. I had a terrible delay when it was first approved and had no money at all for a very long time as I also had no student finance approved and recall having to borrow £5 from a friend & pick up discarded rail tickets from the floor to get by.

The claim has seemed to auto renew itself and I have never been asked to provide anything. I received a letter now suspending my housing benefit and requesting statements from all accounts and information as to how I have met my living expenses since April 2016, and if someone has helped with food or money to state who and when this started and provide a letter as proof. I received another letter saying HB was suspended as there was a doubt about the amount of my entitlement.

I currently have no student finance and I do not work, and the housing benefit has never covered the rent which is private rented. I have found it next to impossible to move house while a student with a child as everywhere here requires a big lump sum deposit for students or that plus willing guarantors.

I have had help from my child's father but this has been irregular, he has been unwell and we were not on good terms when we separated. I have also had financial help from my mother for living expenses and for things like bills and course fees which was to stop when I receive another form of funding. These payments have all gone into my account.

I had looked a long time ago on what was to be declared and the information I found was that income from family or charity etc (not as in savings, but as in gifts/donations which are then spent immediately on outgoings) was not relevant.

I am now absolutely terrified I have made a mistake. Does anyone know if voluntary payments from relatives are going to land me in huge trouble? I wish I had never claimed anything at the moment the stress is seriously affecting me.

I have definitely received no other payments into my account, no other payments in cash, and have not been working in any paid employment for this period of time.

I don't know how to respond really or what this means. I'm so so worried. Thanks

It is your responsibility to notify the HB Dept of all changes of household and financial circumstances as and when they happen.

Voluntary payments including maintenance payments are disregarded in full as income.

What has been your income over the past 5 years?

Caz3121

Reallyworried wrote: »

....I also had no student finance approved

....I currently have no student finance

Did you advise them when you were in receipt of student finance?
"Student loans or grants are taken into account as income for means-tested benefits"
https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Student-Support/How-does-student-support-affect-benefits

[Deleted User]

If you are entitled to claim student finance but don’t I believe they can calculate your benefits as if you have received it because you should have claimed it.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

_shel wrote: »

If you are entitled to claim student finance but don’t I believe they can calculate your benefits as if you have received it because you should have claimed it.

Yes if someone would qualify - even if they don't claim it - the legislation states we MUST include it as income.

annandale

I was never asked to declare to housing benefit if a family member gave me money. They could see that on my bank statements anyway when I handed them in. Surprised that a claim has rolled on for five years without once being asked to check that you were still entitled..

Housing_Benefit_Officer

annandale wrote: »

I was never asked to declare to housing benefit if a family member gave me money. They could see that on my bank statements anyway when I handed them in. Surprised that a claim has rolled on for five years without once being asked to check that you were still entitled..

There was a change in legislation a long while ago where claims do just roll on and on and on without a review - before a claim could last no more than 60 weeks.