Housing and MA

capzeh

Hi, just wanted to know what people could advise etc.

I was in a hostel pregnant (please don't judge harshly)
I was due 21/6/19.
my maternity at work was due to start 3/6/19
I had my baby on 3/6/19 (no rest beforehand!)
I applied for maternity allowance just after as don't earn enough at work (get paid pro rata otherwise would have earned enough I work in a school)

So I had the baby, my only income was tax credits and child benefit from 26/6/19 (I did got last wage  31/6/19)
Maternity allowance had a huge backlog, I kept council aware, in my one room hostel rent was £192pw, I was paying £35 before baby. Once I told them was expecting MA but not receiving I was paying £18pw, kept informing them via email that was only income.

I got finally got my MA on 10/09/19 and it was back dated. I was housed (after 10 months in hostel) 23/08/19. Used the backdated paying on furniture, carpets etc for new place to make it homely for new baby and my 10yr old and paid back parents what they'd lent me to buy baby bits whilst awaiting MA. The payment was £1800. My MAT was to be £119 a week from 20/09/2019.

Anyway my new rent was £108pw and I paid a few weeks full rent. 

I notified council with MA entitlement and they recalculated that I now owe £1500xx in housing benefit and on calculations they've added I was recieving MA when I wasn't during the period of 31/6/19-10/09/19 so I've been paying HB weekly and have reduced it to £450 recently and no rent arrears. My rent is currently £72pw week with HB and paying back overpayment

My MA has run out now, I go back to work on 3/3/20 and probably won't get a full wage because of cut off for march. What I'm also worried about is when council recalculate from now to march will they say they've overpaid me again? As march wage will pay for April... (Does this make any sense??)
I'm terrified of going or contacting council as I feel they hate me (have GAD) 

My only income from now til end of march will be only child benefit and tax credits again. I don't know whether to just keep paying rent as normal and not notify them even though I think I'd get a reduction. Obviously my childcare has gone up.

I pay 10yr childcare £119 a month and now will pay an additional £380 for baby childcare.
(My income is £505pm from work)
Tax credits I currently receive is £200pw
CB £34pw

So am very worried and scared on I never knew they'd backdate the HB for me to pay back as I didn't have that money or a clue of my entitlement and slapped me with an overpayment and will they do it again even though I don't have the wage money until end of month which is be paying toward April?

I've never been on HB before and I'm filled with anxiety having it as feel highly judged that in worthless.

pmlindyloo

This is very complicated but will start the ball rolling and try to help.
First of all the HB overpayment.  They say you were receiving you were  MA 'when you weren't' but, in fact, you did receive MA in the form of a back payment so, in theory, you were receiving MA.  Hope that makes sense. The fact that you spent it on other things makes no difference.  It should have been used for the overpayment of housing benefit.
So, I believe that your HB overpayment is probably correct.
As regards your extra child care payments have you informed tax credits about this?
When you are receiving benefits the main thing to remember is that any change of circumstances MUST be reported.  So, this will include your new child care expenses plus the date you return to work. (You may wish to telephone your place of employment and find out exactly when you will be paid.)
You need to telephone tax credits and the council to report your change of circumstances.
Write down what you need to tell/ask them and write down their reply about what you have to do.
You haven't mentioned council tax support.  Has this been 'sorted'?
Obviously I cannot see your paperwork to be able to tell if all the calculations are correct so you could gather everything together and visit Citizens Advice for some support. (Take your bank statements too)

capzeh

Thank you, I just was never advised I would have to pay it back so that's why I'm worried they'll do it again with my wages so I'll be forever in arrears. I didn't mean to have an overpayment, I wasn't trying to be dodgy etc.

 My council tax hasn't been billed for new tax year, I was paying £75pm from August to this month