Been charged bedroom tax when I shouldnt have been

Sparkleon

As the title says. Back story. I used to live in a 2 bed maisonette but managed to get a move on medical grounds to a 3 bed house due to having a disabled child. I provided the council with everything that was needed and everything was great. 5 years later, I called the council to query something on my bill and she mentioned that my rent is more because I am being charged bedroom tax as I am living in a house that I am not entitled to. I said that wasnt correct as if I wasnt entitled to it, I wouldnt be here. She said to send an email and she can pass it on to the right department. This was back in April. I emailed the 24th and 26th April and was then advised to do a change of circumstances which I did on the 28th April. 

Ever since, I havent heard a peep from them. I called 4 weeks after I did the change of circs and they said there was a back log and to try again in 2 weeks. So I rang back 2 weeks later, I was then told to call back again 2 weeks later. So (in total 8 weeks) I called back again, I was again told sorry, backlog, call back later. It's been nearly 12 weeks now and I am still being told there's a back log. I've just rang and the lady said it should have been done by now and she cant understand why it hasnt. 

I have been charged bedroom tax for 5 years so I can only imagine they owe me a decent amount of money. Money that I could use to be honest with the cost of living crisis biting me (as it is everyone else). I feel like every time I call, I just get mugged off. Does anyone know what else I can do? How to take this further? Because if I owed them money, I doubt they'd be waiting patiently for 12 weeks with zero communication. 

Alice_Holt

What is your family composition - i.e. how many children, and age of children, etc.

If only the one children, does your child need an overnight non-resident carer? 

https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/financial-support/help-with-benefits/bedroom-tax

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/help-if-on-a-low-income/housing-benefit/how-an-extra-bedroom-affects-your-housing-benefit/check-if-a-room-counts-as-an-extra-bedroom-for-housing-benefit/


I assume it is HB on which you have been charged bedroom tax, and that you are not receiving UC ?

poppy12345

Previous thread on same subject here. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6353528/bedroom-tax/p1 children are aged 14 and 11 and same sex.

OP did you have confirmation when you moved into the house that you would be entitled to the extra bedroom? I don't see that question answered in your other thread.

Im your other thread it wasn't clear that your LA had confirmed you were entitled to the extra bedroom for housing beneft, do you have a letter confirming this when you first moved in? Being allowed the extra bedroom doesn't mean you're allowed the increase for your housing benefit.

Alice_Holt

Thanks poppy,
  
     OP  - did you contact your local councillor or your local advice agency ?

Sparkleon

poppy12345 said:

Previous thread on same subject here. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6353528/bedroom-tax/p1 children are aged 14 and 11 and same sex.

OP did you have confirmation when you moved into the house that you would be entitled to the extra bedroom? I don't see that question answered in your other thread.

Im your other thread it wasn't clear that your LA had confirmed you were entitled to the extra bedroom for housing beneft, do you have a letter confirming this when you first moved in? Being allowed the extra bedroom doesn't mean you're allowed the increase for your housing benefit.

Hi, sorry, I couldnt remember if I did a previous post, my memory is terrible lately. Yes I have the letter from the housing saying I was entitled to the extra bedroom and I still have that letter. I sent it to them as well as the medical evidence just incase as my evidence to show that they have been wrongly charging me of bedroom tax all this time - maybe that's why they have been so quiet?! Who knows. I do get housing benefit, not UC. 

I havent contacted anyone just yet. I have just been patiently waiting, hoping I'd receive a letter in the post or something.

poppy12345

Sparkleon said:

poppy12345 said:

Previous thread on same subject here. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6353528/bedroom-tax/p1 children are aged 14 and 11 and same sex.

OP did you have confirmation when you moved into the house that you would be entitled to the extra bedroom? I don't see that question answered in your other thread.

Im your other thread it wasn't clear that your LA had confirmed you were entitled to the extra bedroom for housing beneft, do you have a letter confirming this when you first moved in? Being allowed the extra bedroom doesn't mean you're allowed the increase for your housing benefit.

Yes I have the letter from the housing saying I was entitled to the extra bedroom and I still have that letter.

 I see you said that in the previous thread, what you didn't confirm was, was it a letter from social housing that you qualify for an extra bedroom, or was a letter from your Local Authority that they will pay you the extra bedroom for housing benefit? These are 2 completely different things.

Sparkleon

poppy12345 said:

Sparkleon said:

poppy12345 said:

Previous thread on same subject here. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6353528/bedroom-tax/p1 children are aged 14 and 11 and same sex.

OP did you have confirmation when you moved into the house that you would be entitled to the extra bedroom? I don't see that question answered in your other thread.

Im your other thread it wasn't clear that your LA had confirmed you were entitled to the extra bedroom for housing beneft, do you have a letter confirming this when you first moved in? Being allowed the extra bedroom doesn't mean you're allowed the increase for your housing benefit.

Yes I have the letter from the housing saying I was entitled to the extra bedroom and I still have that letter.

 I see you said that in the previous thread, what you didn't confirm was, was it a letter from social housing that you qualify for an extra bedroom, or was a letter from your Local Authority that they will pay you the extra bedroom for housing benefit? These are 2 completely different things.

It was from the housing. 

Alice_Holt

Sparkleon said:

poppy12345 said:

Sparkleon said:

poppy12345 said:

Previous thread on same subject here. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6353528/bedroom-tax/p1 children are aged 14 and 11 and same sex.

OP did you have confirmation when you moved into the house that you would be entitled to the extra bedroom? I don't see that question answered in your other thread.

Im your other thread it wasn't clear that your LA had confirmed you were entitled to the extra bedroom for housing beneft, do you have a letter confirming this when you first moved in? Being allowed the extra bedroom doesn't mean you're allowed the increase for your housing benefit.

Yes I have the letter from the housing saying I was entitled to the extra bedroom and I still have that letter.

 I see you said that in the previous thread, what you didn't confirm was, was it a letter from social housing that you qualify for an extra bedroom, or was a letter from your Local Authority that they will pay you the extra bedroom for housing benefit? These are 2 completely different things.

It was from the housing. 

      Then to be entitled to the extra bedroom for the purposes of HB, you would need to evidence that your disabled child can't share a bedroom with another child because of their disability.   Note that:

        i) your disabled child must be entitled to the middle or higher rate care component of Disability Living Allowance
        ii) your local council must accept that your child’s disability means they can’t share a bedroom with another child. The letter you have from your housing dept should evidence this.

    You may wish to look at this template letter from the charity Contact to explain to the HB dept why your disabled child needs a separate bedroom. You can download the letter on ‘Challenging bedroom tax decisions’ from the Contact website or call them on freephone 0808 808 3555. You could follow up your previous correspondence, with your version of this template, and copy in your  local councillor.

    Again, after 12 weeks without a reply, I would suggest the involvement of a local councillor or your local advice agency. 

Sparkleon

Alice_Holt said:

Sparkleon said:

poppy12345 said:

Sparkleon said:

poppy12345 said:

Previous thread on same subject here. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6353528/bedroom-tax/p1 children are aged 14 and 11 and same sex.

OP did you have confirmation when you moved into the house that you would be entitled to the extra bedroom? I don't see that question answered in your other thread.

Im your other thread it wasn't clear that your LA had confirmed you were entitled to the extra bedroom for housing beneft, do you have a letter confirming this when you first moved in? Being allowed the extra bedroom doesn't mean you're allowed the increase for your housing benefit.

Yes I have the letter from the housing saying I was entitled to the extra bedroom and I still have that letter.

 I see you said that in the previous thread, what you didn't confirm was, was it a letter from social housing that you qualify for an extra bedroom, or was a letter from your Local Authority that they will pay you the extra bedroom for housing benefit? These are 2 completely different things.

It was from the housing. 

      Then to be entitled to the extra bedroom for the purposes of HB, you would need to evidence that your disabled child can't share a bedroom with another child because of their disability.   Note that:

        i) your disabled child must be entitled to the middle or higher rate care component of Disability Living Allowance
        ii) your local council must accept that your child’s disability means they can’t share a bedroom with another child. The letter you have from your housing dept should evidence this.

    You may wish to look at this template letter from the charity Contact to explain to the HB dept why your disabled child needs a separate bedroom. You can download the letter on ‘Challenging bedroom tax decisions’ from the Contact website or call them on freephone 0808 808 3555. You could follow up your previous correspondence, with your version of this template, and copy in your  local councillor.

    Again, after 12 weeks without a reply, I would suggest the involvement of a local councillor or your local advice agency. 

Thank you. I do get high rate care and low rate mobility for him with DLA and I got a letter from the paediatrician along with proof - ehcp, medical letters, etc. I did look at my local councillor but he doesnt have the best track record with replies but will call CAB tomorrow and see if they can help.

Thanks again.