Bank Statements & Housing Benefit?

[Deleted User]

yvonneem wrote: »

The people at the council offices are working to policies and procedures that will not or should not allow them to read and then spout off your business. The Data Protection act will have been shoved down their throats over and over again so you should be ok although I do understand how you feel. Just give them a ring and ask exactly what they want to see on your statement.

As for the negative comments you are getting just ignore them. You have asked for help not to be judged.

Good Luck

I cant see where anybody has judged,the advice is simple,they ask to see amongst other things bank statements going back for as long as they ask for,nothing could be more straight forward,there are NO exceptions to this.

minimadtrix

You will have to provide your full bank statements. Blanking out transactions will just delay your HB award as the Council will write to you asking what the amounts blanked out are. If there is a large amount of money going out, they may even ask you to prove what you have spent your money on.

Failing to declare transactions could lead you down the 'benefit fraud' path. The blanked out payments could be money being transferred to another account that has your savings in that you have not declared (even if it's transferred to a child's account).

If you want the benefit, unfortunately you have to provide all the information you are asked.

SuziQ

I was told specifically that all transactions have to show-the explanation given to me,was that you may be 'disposing' income to get help (if only I had money to dispose of!)

nottslass_2

SuziQ wrote: »

I was told specifically that all transactions have to show-the explanation given to me,was that you may be 'disposing' income to get help (if only I had money to dispose of!)

But surely,its the amount that you have incoming (plus savings) that is relevant,not what you actually spend your income on ? why should it be relevant where I do my weekly shop or how much I've spent in such and such shop !!!

I can understand them having to check the figures of whats coming into the account,and even the figures of whats leaving the account but is it really necessary for them to know that I spent £25 in Ann summers ?

minimadtrix

nottslass wrote: »

But surely,its the amount that you have incoming (plus savings) that is relevant,not what you actually spend your income on ? why should it be relevant where I do my weekly shop or how much I've spent in such and such shop !!!

I can understand them having to check the figures of whats coming into the account,and even the figures of whats leaving the account but is it really necessary for them to know that I spent £25 in Ann summers ?

Well, to use your scenario. if you were to spend exactly £25 per week at Ann Summers each week, submitted your bank statements but blanked out 'Ann Summers' the council might think it's £25 being transferred into another account because they can't see where the money has gone.

It's not about snooping on your shopping, it's about making sure those less scrupulous who do cheat the system find it harder to do so.

nottslass_2

minimadtrix wrote: »

Well, to use your scenario. if you were to spend exactly £25 per week at Ann Summers each week, submitted your bank statements but blanked out 'Ann Summers' the council might think it's £25 being transferred into another account because they can't see where the money has gone.

It's not about snooping on your shopping, it's about making sure those less scrupulous who do cheat the system find it harder to do so.

I understand your point, but for example, if that £25 was taken out of the hole in the wall,in cash, the benefits office would have no where the money had gone anyway.

minimadtrix

nottslass wrote: »

I understand your point, but for example, if that £25 was taken out of the hole in the wall,in cash, the benefits office would have no where the money had gone anyway.

If you were saying you were unemployed and drawing out £25 a day, then the Council may ask you why you would need to draw so much out (I think more eyebrows would be raised if it was a higher amount).

What I'm basically trying to say is that they will also look for regular patterns.

At the end of the day, there's no way round it - full bank statements have to be disclosed with all items on it. No full disclosure, no benefits

Elle00

mardatha wrote: »

Re providing bank statements for HB, is there any way you can ask your bank to send only "ingoing" transactions on a printout ? We live in a very rural area and all the council staff are known to us, some friends of my children work there as well , and the DH isnt at all happy about people "raking through his money" as he calls it !:D

I understand how he feels but the posters are right, you've got no choice. A tip for the future though is to use cash more though. I draw £50 a week as my food, household and clothing budget and pay cash for things so I don't feel too big-brothered.

Also, as embarrassing as it is that the vast majority of my income is spent in Tesco, at least no-one reading my bank statements will know what it is I buy in each shop. Could be vodka and cigs, could be nappies and milk - all they know is that I spent £15 in Tesco from my bank statement!

[Deleted User]

nottslass wrote: »

But surely,its the amount that you have incoming (plus savings) that is relevant,not what you actually spend your income on ? why should it be relevant where I do my weekly shop or how much I've spent in such and such shop !!!

I can understand them having to check the figures of whats coming into the account,and even the figures of whats leaving the account but is it really necessary for them to know that I spent £25 in Ann summers ?

i think its now been explained in great detail and clarity why they want to see complete statements,and not what YOU decide you want to show them,it was also pointed out that the benefit officers would be risking their careers by divulging anything about you to anyone that doesnt need to know.My best advice to you now is just to get on with it,creating waves with these people is a risky game.

mardatha

thanks to all who were kind & helpful, and understood our feeling of violation of privacy. He came ,out today, he didnt need to see anything at all, just the letter of award of pension credit. Thank god things are all settled, I thought the DH was going to have his 4th heart attack with fussing --but things are all sorted now. And thanks for this amazing site !