Proof of earnings

whistle_pop

I tried that but I had to create a gateway ID and when it shown the code on the app it wouldn't register when I entered it onto the website. I tried 4 or 5 times as the code refreshes and creates a new one but it just wouldn't work. Kept saying the code was invalid.

whistle_pop

I just typed in minimum wage for 16 hrs per week and its calculated that I'd pay nothing in tax or NI.

Still can't get it to work to check my earnings though!

whistle_pop

OK so My boss typed up a signed headed letter with details of what I have been paid over the time period the council want wage slips for. This was on the advice of his accountant. There will be a £730 difference if I've calculated it right. Will this be classed as fraudulent because I didn't inform them of the pay rises? I can pay them the money back, my brother will loan it to me. I handed the letter in yesterday, just still a little worried about this..

Housing_Benefit_Officer

whistle_pop wrote: »

I have just come off the phone from my boss and his accountant is sending through some type of paperwork. Basically I have been paid the minimum wage for the period that the council are asking to see proof of but they haven't been informed about the yearly increases. I have only informed them of the latest one, which is probably why they wrote to me and suspended my claim. Going by what my boss has and what I have there is a difference of just over £1000. This means I have been overpaid benefit by £1000 I would think. This is over 2 years. What happens now? I assumed all was OK because the government set NMW and surely the council would automatically adjust the benefit payments.

I feel I would be incriminating myself for fraud by handing in the information they require, but I really can't afford not to. I've already missed 2 rent payments and told my landlord it's a clerical error soon to be fixed.

I'm quite worried about this, does anybody have any insight or experience with this? I'm imagining a criminal charge and possible imprisonment?

It is up to you to provide evidence of any changes in household or financial circumstances. Every £1 increase in take home pay results in a reduction of 65p in Housing Benefit and 20p in Council Tax Support. If your wages increased and your Housing Benefit didn't decrease you would have realised this wasn't correct.

No you don't have to hand in the information. This will result in your claim being cancelled.

99% of Housing Benefit overpayments do not result in a prosecution. Local Authorities have an income threshold for prosecutions - normally in the tens of thousands. They may slap you with a financial penalty. Any overapayment will be deducted from your ongoing Housing Benefit. The only time I have been involved in prosecution for such a small potential overpayment was when the claimant had already been prosecuted twice before for fraud - and then committed fraud again resulting in a £500 overpayment.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

whistle_pop wrote: »

OK so My boss typed up a signed headed letter with details of what I have been paid over the time period the council want wage slips for. This was on the advice of his accountant. There will be a £730 difference if I've calculated it right. Will this be classed as fraudulent because I didn't inform them of the pay rises? I can pay them the money back, my brother will loan it to me. I handed the letter in yesterday, just still a little worried about this..

This should create an overpayment of about £475.40.

We currently deduct £11.10 per week to recover overpayments or £18.50 for fraudulent overpayments.

If this causes financial hardship you can request for the deductions to be reduced.

whistle_pop

Thank you for your time Housing Benefit Officer. I have been trying to read around again today but there isn't really much in the way of my own personal position. I do feel a bit better now, but after managing to get on hmrc website with a gov gateway ID there isn't any record of any earnings. Only N.I contributions and no record of tax/earnings. I think this is because there has been no tax or N.I paid but I don't know. This should be my employers responsibility should it not? To inform them of my earnings, I mean.
He filled out my change of circumstances form and put in the figures and signed it, and he's also put his signature to this letter with the proof of earnings the council wanted from me.. So he'd be a bit of a prat if he's making this up and nothing is going onto his books for my employment.

When this is sorted I may just look for a new job. Never intended to be working part time for this long in this job anyway, hand to mouth, no money, going round my parents for tea every night. Getting sick of it all.