Housing Benefit Home Visit

Fran

There's also advice re HB on the Citizens Advice - Adviceguide website. You could give them a ring if you're not sure about any of the facts re your claim.

Fran

Is your housemate male? It could be that they suspect you are living together as partners? You shouldn't be sharing things like cooking, buying food, going shopping etc., though in reality this is obviously absurd as if you get on with a fellow housemate it is very likely that you would share things at some time.

black-saturn

When I went to Vietnam on holiday for 3 weeks last year I lost 3 weeks housing benefit. The reason they gave for this was that I went to a country outside the EU.

You never know who's going to shop you to the HB or the DSS for doing something you shouldnt or for doing something your not. A mutual "friend" told the housing benefit I was going to Vietnam so I had to let them know all the details. Then also a mutual "friend" told the DSS that I had a man living with me when I didn't. I have a bf but he doesn't live with me, he lives 120 miles away. I'm still yet to find out for sure who this "friend" is but I think I've got an idea.

If they start asking personal questions about your partner just say that you have a partner who does not live with you. They don't need to know all the details of whether they are male or female, it's none of their business.

Barcode

My housemate is female. We split the bills, but food shopping is seperate. Luckily, we keep receipts to prove we have paid half the electricity, gas bill etc.

I can't believe you would lose housing benefit for three weeks. How incredibly petty. Does it have to be paid back? Or it is deducted from future payments? I can't afford to lose two months housing benefit.

I like to believe people are honest until proven otherwise. But I suppose I have to be realistic and consider that somebody might be vindictive. It might be fine for them to be down a few hundred pounds, but losing benefit will literally mean the difference between finding money to eat, pay other bills etc.

I would ask my partner in an emergency, but she is not rich and just about manages everything herself. I'm estranged from my family, so no support there. For a friend to report me knowing my situation seems very spiteful. If this is the case, then I suppose I'm going to have to seethe silently and work out a way of getting my own back.

black-saturn

They deducted it from my future payments in small amounts so it wasn't really noticeable.

I don't trust anyone anymore so I tend not to tell anyone I know any of my personal stuff. I'm a keep myself to myself person.

Oh and Barcode, I have thanked you for bringing the subject up.

Zziggi

In my area all housing benefit renewals are done by then turning up on your doorstep annually (without any letters or appointment) and expect to be let in to ''check your details''. Last year when this happened to me i was still in my dressing gown and felt my home was invaded by someone just turning up and wanting to be let in. Afterwards i felt really upset that this person had just come into my home (and cross with myself for not saying 'no'). I vowed that when it happens again this year (am expecting them in the next 3 weeks or so) that i would refuse to let them in as (a) they haven't made an appointment and (b) i don't wish to let strangers into my home - if they want some details from me then they can arrange an appointment for me to go into their offices. I'm probably just going to end up creating trouble for myself though.....

can anyone tell me if i am within my rights to tell them they can't come in?

Barcode, it does feel like an invasion of privacy. I know they do it to check people are living where they say they are and to cut down fraud but to treat all claimants like fraudsters annoys me intently.

Ted_Hutchinson

See UK.gov.social-security
I agree with the reply given here. You may well be able to argue the toss that an unplanned visit infringes your human rights however the hassle which this might involve will be greater than the effort involved in answering their questions, and allowing them entry, when they arrive.

helen21_2

You can refuse them to come in, you can answer questions on your doorstop, but if you do this they then believe you have something to hide!!

poorbabe

I live in London and my first experience of Housing Benefit was when I had to seek public housing as the house I lived in was going to be sold. I seem to have come off better than some here as I never had the home visits and my initial application was filled by the housing manager of the time.

Since then, having now moved to HA property I completed the forms myself and sent them the required documentation. I bank online so there is no way I was going to pay money for a statement. My payslip was electronic also. All were accepted. My current HB is so small I did think of refusing it as I can manage my rent with some belt tightening, but decided against it for now.

I can't believe how some 'friends' could be so vindictive!

From my experience with my local council I firmly believe some of the staff have the view that everyone in need is out to scam from them so they treat people in a disgraceful way. I complained bitterly whenever that happened to me and got slightly better treatment. As to them turning up as and when, the woman who tried that got short shrift in a written letter. She never tried that again! Of course, she then tried to stitch me up but that didn't work either.

Ensure you know the rules and don't allow them to bully you. That is what they do and will continue if allowed. Find out who the line manager is and write to them, escalating it upwards if you feel it necessary, keeping copies and notes of all conversations etc.

All the best.

jockettuk

i got a letter from the benefits people abt coming round to check im getting all im entitled to i asked the woman who came round and i only got a few days notice on the letter why they come round rather than let us go to the office etc she said to be truthful its to make sure your living were your claiming for.. we could all claim whatever we liked but they tend to check up on you and coming to your house to check that you actually live there is one way of doing this .. and yes you can refuse them entry but ive known them to stop peoples benefits untill they can prove they live there ..