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This is a long one so sit comfortably. Back in 1994/97 I was receiving Income Support (single parent blah, blah, blah,) and was claiming housing benefit. I was overpaid the Income support as I had undeclared income ( I am thoroughly ashamed about this but I was so **** poor at the time). Anyway I accept that I was overpaid IS and am quite happily paying it back. Now I have recieved a letter from the council asking me to repay all the housing benefit paid to me for that period.
However they have not got a complete set of records for the said period and are asking me to repay the whole amount back. My arguement is however; a) Without the IS, my income was so low that I would have received full housing benefit anyway. b) As I am paying the IS back then I do not see how that can be classed as income for said period and think that that should be diregarded in the council's calculations. c) Do they not have to have a complete set of records in order to reclaim any housing benefit overpayment?
I have replied to them in writing saying the above. I was just wondering where I stand. Please don't judge me for making a false benefit claim, as I said I am thoroughly ashamed of what I did but unless you have ever been so poor I don't think you can understand what a miserable existance living on benrfit is and how it is impossible to manage. Thanks for any replies.
I totally sympathise with you.......but what you didnt wasnt just WRONG, its Fraud and amounts to a criminal offence.
They could get the police involved.....could you afford to pay back the amount they are asking for?
Get back to me.
Tom.
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[LEFT][SIZE=4][COLOR=red][SIZE=1]Advice & opinions of tom3131, The Consumer Action Group and The Bank Action Group are offered informally, without prejudice & without liability. Use your own judgment. Seek advice of a qualified insured professional if you ha
Thankyou for the reply Tom. I am well aware that it was fraud so I don't particularly want to go into the morality of what I did. BTW I was taken to court and pleaded guilty. I just want know if they can claim for money that I am paying back as I said in my previous post. Without the IS, my income was so low that I would have received full housing benefit anyway. Come to think of it, even with the IS and the undeclared income, my annual income was still under £10k.
Sorry Barmcakes, I'm not an expert in this field....but in my personal opinion they shouldnt ask for the HB back.
The amount you are being asked to pay back will surely amount to thousands of pounds? Therefore i suggest you seek immediate advice form your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).
They are qualified professinals are there advice is much more reliable.
The details I most below may jsut be able to help...but I cant say for sure.
"The National Debt Line can give free information to people living in England and Wales. It also provides an information pack on dealing with debt. The line is available on Monday to Friday 9.00 to 9.00 and on Saturday 9.30. to 1.00. The National Debtline telephone number is: 0808 808 4000 and the website address is www.nationaldebtline.co.u k."
Before you take any legal action, please read through the FAQ's, then if you dont understand something, please ask for advice .
If theres a thread in which you think I could help, please PM me using the Private Messaging facility in the top right hand corner of the screen.
[LEFT][SIZE=4][COLOR=red][SIZE=1]Advice & opinions of tom3131, The Consumer Action Group and The Bank Action Group are offered informally, without prejudice & without liability. Use your own judgment. Seek advice of a qualified insured professional if you ha
Thanks Tom. As you rightly said, it is quite a large amount that they are asking me to repay.Looks like I will be making an appointment with the CAB tomorrow.
Housing benefit overpayment.
the Income support as I had undeclared income ( I am thoroughly ashamed about this but I was so **** poor at the time). Anyway I accept that I was overpaid
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Re: Housing benefit overpayment.
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