As long as your friend is using one of the spare bedrooms, that can be used as evidence (A signed statement from both of you)

Would be the DWP as it's about Carers Allowence

Marc, The trouble is that you don't have to live together to be classed as a "couple" they do look at other things as well. EG.. post; the address bank accounts are in etc. The rules they use in deciding if she is a partner is the balance of probabilities, so the more evidence you get the better. EDIT (just seen your reply) You need your friend to gather as much info as she can she was living elsewhere. Has your place got one or two bedrooms

Hi First Once I get all info (savings etc) I will be getting them to claim PC, so then won't have to pay CT. I have just found out how bad they have been in not claiming what they should have. Been on to the benefit calculator and with CT they should be about £60PW better off. But it's the tax issue I don't understand as I am surprised they are paying tax on that amount. Also if it is wrong, how far back could they claim?

Sorry if in wrong forum, please move if so, thanks. I'm just sorting out my parents finances (70 &69), as they not been getting everything they should. (I'm still waiting for all info from them) First Q My dad gets a state pension I believe £102.15PW (Mum gets £78.86PW) Dad also gets a small private one of £1600 PA He has always paid tax on the private one, quite a bit at first, but hardly anything these days. Is it right he should pay tax on it? Cheers

If the person only the phone could see you hadn't claimed why the visit? It's a terrible error on their part Make it clear in your complaint how much distress this issue in causing you (to be expected)

Yes, I believe so but hopefully someone can confirm this. TBH It's a joke for them to say "clearly see we never claimed" then stating it will take a long time to look at it.

Personally I think you should make a formal complaint about your issue.

What reasons did you give in the IUC that you shouldn't be classed as a couple?

Sadly even if you supply proof I believe you still have to repay the money back, but will help reduce any penalty that they might impose. (or have they already set a penalty?)

AFAIK if there was an error and they send you paperwork that contained the error, then the onus is on you to inform them of that error if it is reasonable to spot. If they sent paperwork saying your partner was earning nothing, then I would expect that would be classed as reasonable to spot. When you rung up to confirm it was right, did you state that your partner was earning £40k (Would help if you could prove that phone call) EDIT Unless you pointed out the error, to them the calculation would have been correct.

It seems some people with cancer do keep claiming under special rules. http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/forum/dla-special-rules-3-years-on-t26357.html

Not totally sure what you are asking. You don't have to live together to be classed as partners (for benefits) EG an oil worker could be living on a rig, but still be someone's partner. So they can class you as LTAMAW from the date of marriage, even though your husband had to live somewhere else because of his work.

I would hope they see sense, mistakes do happen, and this does look like one of them.

It does seem strange when doing the benefits calculators it asked for pre tax info. So you would expect them to calculate it correctly from that.

Your wages stay the same, but your income changed. £1200/£1200 £750/£890. The council wouldn't have known when your tax code changed. How long has it being going on for? EDIT PS who told you about fraud? Thet can not say you have commuted fraud, as it's not them that decide. They can say you're suspected of fraud. .

When your income (tax code) changed you should have informed HB. Have they sent an overpayment letter?

I think you just offended your cat.

I only found it out on this site, something I wouldn't have thought about. Another thing I leant, if someone's parents were helping a person out by putting £50 per month in their bank to help pay bills, this could be classed as income and benefits could be reduced. Being on IS is a minefield (I'm on it myself), so I'm trying to learn the different rules so I don't fall foul of them, and also share what I have learnt. EDIT People with much more experience than me do read the threads, and all comment if they don't agree with me.

Thanks for the example. You're a great asset to this site Erika.

If you say you can't supply any info they request, then the smoke alarms will go off, even if there isn't a fire. EDIT I get your point, Erika, but can't see how asking for bank statements to corroborate other info could be seen as unreasonable.

TBH I couldn't see asking for proof is unreasonable.

The council are asking for proof so they need to see your statements to confirm your figures. As far as the council are concerned they don't care if it's your brothers account. To them if it contains your trasactions, then the statement of those transactions is yours. EDIT Could you get your brother to black out his transactions just leaving yours, and would council accept that?

You have to be so careful Example You could buy a £20k car with HP but if you borrowed it from a bank, and had access to money before you bought the car (say money was transferred into your account) then the £20k would be classed as capital. Then buying the car could been seen as deprivation of capital.

The council wants to see your expenses, it's up to you to let them see them. (It's not their problem you can't show them) EDIT The council aren't asking to see someone else's statements they are asking to see your statements