Housing benefit

Bazza83

Hi,

I've had a scan and couldn't see anything mentioned so apologies if this is covered elsewhere. I have a query with housing benefits.

I'm due for renewal and just wondered if there is a policy on gambling? I dabbled from January 1st up until the 15th Feb when I self excluded, never gambled before and never intend to afterwards, it was just something I wanted to try. They want to see my most recent two months bank statements (the only two littered with gambling deposits and withdrawals!), is this going to bite me in the butt?

Counted up and I deposited a total of £900 in that period and withdrew £1374.

Background on me: work full time, modest earnings 20-25k, partner who is full time mum and two children. Private rent in which the housing benefit contribution is for.

I'm genuinely terrified that they can tell me to shove it because I had a dabble in online gambling sites. Am I worrying over nothing? I'd like to think that it's not an issue and I'm being silly.

I'm aware that gambling whilst receiving benefits is probably frowned upon but it's been a one time thing, other than my weekly Saturday lotto ticket I'm not a gambler, although that's a hefty t deposit in six weeks but it's only because at not one point was I down.

Anyway, can anyone confirm either way? Thanks in advance.

[Deleted User]

How you spend your money is entirely your affair and making a modest profit should not be an issue, lets face it if everyone on HB who won a tenner on the lottery had to inform them the system would collapse under the strain. There would be no harm done if you also sent them the bank statement from December as well.

Bazza83

Brilliant, thanks for the reply. Good idea on Decembers payslip. I'll pop that in as well.

As I say it's not something I normally do but I popped 30 in one day and kept winning! Won 150 first time and withdrew the lot. When it cleared I'd put 30 back and so on. Never once in the red. Beginners luck! Sod that for a game of soldiers going back. Booked a holiday with the profit so delighted from that point of view, in August no less! Usually it's October half term as we can't afford to go in the summer.

Hopefully I'm worrying over nothing.