Thank-you Silverfox, Yes I did receive an acknowledgement when I submitted the change of circumstances, but stupidly I didn't save it because i just thought that as they had my new details they would just amend them accordingly. And then I received a letter from them a few weeks later advising that it had decreased, from this I thought they had acted on the information that I had provided. I am going to contact the housing benefit tomorrow, what do you think would be best to say to them to try and get this stopped from going to court? Also going to draft a letter, as there is a name of a person that the charge has been authorised by, is that who I would write directly to?. (Specialist Fraud Division Crown Prosecution Division)

Thank-you for your response Silverfox, No nothing left out at all, only thing is I contacted the housing benefit the other day to check what information they had received from myself about updating my details. They say that have nothing from when I registered my partner living at my address with me up until Sept 15. Although she did say to me that they had received regular updates form the tax credits, (which i informed as well), when I asked why didnt they update my details from the tax credits, she just said they dont always rely on that info. They have nothing registered that I sent a change of circumstance in, because I actually did this through my councils website, I have no proof that I did this. And as I received a letter a few weeks after to advise that my claim had changed, I just assumed that this was because of the change that I reported. Would it be the person from the housing benefit that I would inform that i would be denying the charge? Yes my court date is the 14th March

Thankyou so much xx

Charge magistrates court 1720 between june 2013-aug 2015 you dishonestly failed to promptly notify the council in a prescribed manner of a change of circumstances. which you knew would affect your entitlement to housing benefit namely you partner received an increased income. Contrary to section 111a (1a) and (3) of the social security administration act 1992 (ss92039) I know I owe the overpayment back but i really dont think that i did it fraudulently, but i dont want to plead guilty as i dont think that i am but i really dont want a criminal record or it have to go to a trial. Cant stop thinking about it im so worried feel sick, started having chest pains as well with it all

Not much to be honest, as I dont think that we would be entitled to legal aid, spoke to a local solicitor who advised that fixed costs would be around £400 and just to basically speak to the on duty solicitor when i get there. On the letter from court it states that I failed to advise that my partners hours had increased and was being done under section 111a Im so worried about leaving my children and being in the local paper, i would be mortified if i was classed as a benefit cheat and got a criminal record, I would probably even lose my job

Hello, Sorry if I have posted this incorrectly, I'm at my wits end and so worried dont know what to do, I was claiming housing benefit, and then my partner moved in, at this time we were both working part time. I re-applied for a joint claim, Apr 2013 and gave wageslips and bank statements and so on to which I was advised I would still be entitled to Housing Benefit. In June my partner increased his hours from 20 to 37 and I went on my councils website in May to advise that there had been a change in circumstances and also that my rent had increased. A few weeks later I received a letter advising that I was not entitled to the full amount and was only entitled to around £28 a week. (I was under the impression that they had received my change in circumstances and acted upon it). Stupidly I didn't even check the amount in the paperwork as I just thought that we were still entitled to it as I was still part time and his wage hadn't increased by a large amount. In Sept 2015 I was advised that I wasnt entitled to housing benefit anymore and then in In February 2016 I was interviewed under caution and advised that I had not advised them that my partners wage had increased and that it was going to be investigated. I then received a letter advising that I had been overpaid by £5600, I was mortified and advised that I wanted to pay it back asap. I sent in an appeal as my circumstances at the time were not good, i received nothing back from them to advise they had even acknowledged my appeal, then when i spoke to them the other day they advised that they had closed my appeal down and just withdrawn it by £100 I re-applied when i was on maternity allowance, they advised i was entitled to around £10 a week of which they would claim that back towards my debt, then when i went back to work they advised me i wasnt entitled so I set up a payment plan of £30 a month. Now I have received a letter saying i need to go to court i am at my wits end. From the free legal advice that I have received they are saying if i plead guilty I will get a criminal record and fine but if i plead not guilty then it could be drawn out longer and court costs could go up more and i could be looking at prison. I have never done anything wrong in my life i'm so worried im going to leave my children.