Had this sent to me by my disability advisor.... http://surveys.parkinsons.org.uk/s/bigbenefitssurvey/

Hi all Back in february I had a call from DWP saying they'd received information that my savings had gone over the limit for income support and requested bank statements for the previous 6 months. Some of those accounts had been closed and it was a bit awkward to get statements, the bank however provided a closing balance that detailed the sums in the account between the dates they were asking for (backward from Nov 16 - present) It also stated that thee was a zero balance and the account closed in January. I'd heard nothing at all for three months and then this evening got a call from them saying I hadn't sent all the statements in which i have. On the letter they originally sent, there was also a line asking for statement for any other accounts dating back to Nov 2014. I didn't send any in because there were no other accounts, however, they are now saying they made an error in their original letter and that i should of provided statements for all accounts going back to 2014. I've complied fully without hesitation up til now but the fact that they've only just (allegedly) started looking at my case and to not even notify me of the delay then claim it's MY error is crap. and I feel that I no longer wish to be so helpful. I've had three months of worry and it's not fair. Now I've got who knows how long before they make a decision. What (if any) are my rights here? I'm guessing that they'll use the non-compliance line and just stop my (and potentially my daughters too) benefits? BTW, it did turn out that my savings DID go over the limit for about a week by a couple of hundred quid. As soon as i got off the phone to the DWP, i immediately checked my account and on going back about a month did find the problem. I also called the investigator back and declared this- and this was caused by a large backpayment of benefits owed to my daughter for ESA and my benefits going in on the same day and a large deposit from the council related to 6 months of expenses they owed me). I'm my daughter's full time carer and i manage her benefits in my account as she still lives at home - she has a severe mental disability. All of this information is clearly shown on the statements i sent in. I had assumed also that as we both get benefits in our own right that we are both entitled to the savings limits (6k each) Can anybody clarify this point. I've always been super careful not to go over the limits as i know this automatically triggers a notice to DWP. This often means that I end up having to buy stuff that is not really required just to stay under the limits - an absolutely ludicrous state of affairs. My daughter is now 20 and will soon be moving out into supported living and I have always tried to save a little money from her benefits to set her up in her own home when the time comes. If anybody has some info or hints i'd be much obliged Stool

Just a general question, i've heard childrens savings accounts with £3000 or more affects parents benefits such as housing benefit. If it's held in a child trust fund opened by govenment or junior isa, both which can't be accessed until child turns 18, are they also considered. Or just standard accounts?

I had a guy who had worked for me for 5 years. He came to me begging in December for a house to stay in. I helped the guy out by giving him a house that I owned. Cut a long story short he kept the money from the benefit payments telling me lies after lies. I managed to get a court order to evict him. But he still owes me £4000 which I have no chance of seeing. This has sent me in financial difficulties trying to cover the mortgage shortfall. The court ordered him to pay the full amount which he has not. I would really like to get the money off him. I know he works full time but found out later he is claiming housing benefit. He must not be declaring his entire income which will make it hard for me to get the money right? Any help would be appreciated.

Apparently he had repeatedly asked how much he had been overpaid/overclaimed and he never received a response. He was terrified that he would be £thousands in debt. Another tragic victim of the benefit system http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/coal-miner-took-life-after-10477308

I have recently switched from ESA to UC. ESA paid my rent but then it became UC paying the rent. My council told Universal Credit that they had overpaid my housing benefit by mistake for 6 days. Once notified, I repaid this immediately to the council. Universal Credit deducted this from my Universal Credit payment 5 weeks later without telling me. I have shown UC proof of repayment. And now neither UC nor the council accepts responsibility for the deduction and I cannot get it paid to me (£78.13). I believe UC is responsible as they deducted it but the council shouldn't have told them if they were just going to ask for it back. And then when I paid it back, they should have told UC. What can I do?

Hi I have been reading the following thread forum thread 353395 - Letter-to-send-if-you-are-being-charged-bank-fees-whilst-on-benefits (Will not allow link) and have been trying to locate the initial letter sent to the bank, before action However there is a link at the first comment at the top of the page yet it simply goes to the forums titles and no letter I wonder if anyone can help at all as i wanted to send to my bank to see if i could stop monthly overdraft fees occurring which because i seem to be in overdraft most of the time, i always receive at least £33 in fees every month from their £1 per day overdraft fee and is quite a chunk from my ESA payments i receive Any general advice will also be greatly appreciated Many thanks for your time Regards

Hi, I have a few disjointed questions about benefits fraud - specifically relating to universal credit. Are all Universal Credit benefit fraud cases looked at by the Single Fraud Investigation service? And is it correct that they can only sanction you with an Administrative Penalty now for lower monetary amounts - and not a Formal Caution? And does this Administrative Penalty appear on the PNC/a enhanced CRB/DBS check? Also, who would the Investigation Under Caution take place with? Is it still local authorities or has the Single Fraud Investigation Service taken over?

Hi everyone, I would appreciate your advice on this matter. I received a letter from Newlyn about a month ago regarding an overpayment of housing benefit from Newham Council, amounting to around £2200. I contacted them straight away asking for details, as the council has never written to me at my new address. Newlyn said they didn't have any details, as they had only held the account for several days. I then started getting phone calls every couple of days. When I couldn't come to the phone, they would leave me a voicemail and I always returned their calls. I explained the situation again the second time I spoke to them and the lady told me which period the overpayment was for to which I replied that it was still insufficient information, but she said she didn't know any more. I've contacted the council, requesting to know why they think I owe them money and asked for a statement of payment from them. I've spoken to Newlyn at least twice after this and explained on every occasion that I've contacted the council to enquire about the situation but have yet to receive a reply. The people on the phone said they were unable to 'hold' the account, even though I've done everything I can and they're not providing me with a reason to pay. I have received an automated response email from the council stating they have received my enquiry and they will respond to me in due time, but Newlyn won't leave me alone. In the past few days, they have sent me a letter that was addressed to 'the occupier' requesting for a forwarding address for me even though, I've contacted and spoken to them many times. I don't know how to proceed. I can't pay them - I don't have the money, but also I don't see why I should pay when I haven't been given reason to. They've said "you owe this much, now pay up" and that's pretty much it. I'm really stressed out about how quickly this is escalating and I'm really frustrated as to why I'm expected to pay when they haven't even explained to me why I owe them money. I'm struggling to cope with this and I feel really trapped. Thanks in advance to anyone who responds. Zoe

How to fight / complain about a council Norwich city council / Norfolk county council (both names on letters) that you believe are idiots and or committing fraud Actually in credit (£35) with rent account and council tax as we pay shortfall ourselves... but I'm a carer for 1 of 2 of my autistic daughters and my missus works for fixed salary with no chance of overtime ever.. so you'd think h/b and c/t benefit would be fixed. Not a chance when missus worked 5 days a week we got around £10 per week h/b, now same job but 3 days only, as original job holder has come back from maternity. we got just £1.10 a week ... no sense or reason. Asked for written explanation from council, both verbal over counter and via telephone, 6-8 weeks later no response. we have done and have receipt for change of circumstances from November ( 5 to 3 days work ) from council. now April time and suddenly we got a letter from housing officer with projected housing benefit from council (not the council ) saying they would be paying £55 1 month, £97 the next month and then £45 the month after that.... problem is we have a paper debt of £538 rent arrears. This I sorted myself and it's purely a computer error from projected h/b to actual h/b received (i.e council say gonna pay £100 but only pay £40 so a -£60 debt occurs on paper but not in account as we pay short fall) I've done the letter requesting a detailed written breakdown of all housing benefit since claim beginning - ignored ( 6- 8 weeks now) asked for a review of it - nothing but recalculates showing different amounts every week! ( just the standard letter -no explanation ) I've phoned and read from council letter saying please ask for a detailed breakdown made very clear this was what I was asking for - the response was I can only print off letters you have already received !! how do I fight someone who basically knows its wrong but wont admit it? who is the person to complain to in charge of h/b or higher? would SAR's and / or L.B.A ? be next step?

Hello all some please, I'm *trying* to get myself back on an even keel financially. So I took the advice of you guys and did my credit file with Noddle. There is something on there from 01/02/2008 (Arrow Global) for £3,010. I literally have no idea what this is for or how to go about finding out. I raised a dispute with Noddle but they rejected my claim to have it removed. What next? Also I asked for the financial link to be removed to my ex husband but they refused that also because we still have connected debt. We have a clean break order in place - what do I do about that please?

Hi, I'm just wanting a little advice please. I could have the opportunity of a part time job of 10 hrs per week which is over 5 nights which is 2 hrs and the wage would be £72 per week but paid monthly. Now my partner claims ESA for both of us as he is unable to work.. we receive £115 a week ESA and Carers Allowance of £62 per week which I receive to care for my partner. my partner also receives £450 month DLA. we receive housing benefit of £89 per week but that is paid direct to council. Now would I be better with the part time job or would we lose some of the money. would we have to pay rent/council tax etc. all I was told is that we would lose £30 ESA per week but not sure if we'd have to pay rent and more council tax. Thank you in advance.

On 22/09/16 I bought my home outright for £44,000 with roughly £46,000 I had in savings. The following day I put in a claim for ESA starting from 01/10, then once I'd received the ESA50 I declared the savings that I'd had in the last six months and how I'd spent them on my house leaving me with under £16,000 in savings. I spent the next three months sending bank statements, CHAPS receipts, investment bond statements and more bank statements trying to prove what I'd had and what I'd spent it on, but have so far received no assessment phase payments. At no point did I receive any request for fit notes or other medical evidence. On 11/01/17 I finally had my work capability assessment but two weeks later received the news that I'd be awarded 0 points, and that my claim would be denied from 08/10/16. My sister made a call a few days later to find out why I still hadn't received any assessment phase payments, and was told that a letter would be sent out. I then received a letter stating that they could not pay me an allowance from 08/10/16 as I had been declared fit for work at my assessment. Is it right that they can retroactively deny me the assessment rate phase like this? It seems incredibly unfair that they could be allowed to do such a thing and I now have no money left to get by on.

What benefits is someone entitled to when on a zero hours contract and not given any work for weeks?

I hope someone can help. I have just served a tenant a section 8 before I go to court to evict them. They owe £3680 in unpaid rent and this will increase on the 8th by another £1000. The debt has gone on for over a year now and as they are on benefits I am wondering what my options are to try and recover the money owed. Has anyone had any experience of this. Thanks

When my husband died last year we were in arrears with our Council Tax. I went to the Council and an arrangement was put in place which I've adhered to. Until yesterday, no problem. Yesterday, two letters come through the post from Ross & Roberts addressed to my husband. They were pay up within 7 days or we will take you to Court letters. Being somewhat bemused by these letters, I had a vision of letting them take my husband to Court, me going to Court to "represent" my husband and asking the Judge if the Court could employ the services of a Medium so my husband could state his case from beyond the grave!!! Being serious now. Someone, has slipped up - badly. I don't know if this is the fault of the Council or Ross & Roberts and I'm not sure whose cage to rattle first about this but cage rattle I will. I haven't had anything from the Council themselves, just this DCA. I'm wondering if I can sue them for harrassment and causing distress. It would be nice to turn the tables on them for a change. Any advice welcome.

Hi all. First please allow me to explain my situation. I am a full-time carer for my partner who has physical and mental disabilities, and as such is on PIP (standard daily living, standard mobility rates). He also gets ESA (Support group), which allows us to get Housing Benefit and council tax benefit. I also claim carers allowance for looking after my partner full-time. We have been discussing my return to work - initially to supplement our income within the confines allowed by each benefit, but hopefully the work may grow so that we can come off of some of them altogether. I will be a self-employed sole trader, initially only working about 10hrs a week / earning around £75 per week. I want to report my work to the DWP so everything is legitimate without risk of sanction. I am looking for advice on how this will affect our benefits (i have booked an appointment at my local CAB office but it is several weeks away as they are so busy). In particular, how much am i able to earn before it affects certain benefits? If i work, will my partner still be able to claim ESA or will it go to income support (which i thought was being phased out?)? I have used the turntous calculator but the results do not seem to be right.

The Government is planning a major overhaul of disability benefits assessment - a system that has been described by critics as "cruel". http://news.sky.com/story/government-to-overhaul-cruel-disability-benefits-system-10638235

I am stuck again this time I have a man who have £12000 over the limit in savings and he wants to know how he can spend it in order to keep his HA. Only suggestions I have is a funeral plan very morbid I know. He is 70 years old.

Hi everyone, Just wondering if anyone can advise me. We're a family on low income and on working and child tax credits. I want to start a college course but would need a student loan to cover the costs of the course but I'm worried that the loan might be classed as an income and affect our tax credits entitlement. Can anyone advise please. Regards Angnnig

Sickness benefits claimants won't have to go through reassessments to keep their payments if they suffer from chronic illnesses. http://news.sky.com/story/reassessments-scrapped-for-chronically-ill-benefits-claimants-10600519

Hi all, I am a UK national hoping to move to the Netherlands very soon and would like to know what benefits I am entitled to take with me, I am worried as I have done this once before and all my JSA and DLA was stopped due to my no longer meeting the UK residency criterior. I am in reciept of PIP (Highest rates) and Income related ESA, I recieve approx two payment of £360 PM ESA and one payment of £416 PM Pip. This is enough for me to live comfortably in Holland, but I fear as soon as I disclose that I am abroad they will stop my benefits again. Please can anyone offer me any advice?

Hi, I've just been to the JC to sign on as usual, asked for a letter confirming receipt off JSA and was told I'm no longer in receipt as it has "just gone over 6 months". Apparently you can only claim for 6 months as a EU citizen but when I started my claim I was told that didn't apply in this case as it was for new migrants. I did the HRT interview showed proof of residence for the last three months as required but tenancy agreement is 7 years old and date of first arrival in UK is 1984! I had my old passport issued in London in 2003, worked in the City since 97, only claimed for a year after the credit crunch, then worked 4 years non stop. Have paid taxes and worked in UK all my life, how can they do this? Have applied for over 100 jobs and had interviews, even an upcoming one so not exact intending to live off the system. In fact they agreed to pay for my travel to this interview so they know about it. When I argued they booked me an interview at the JC in 10 days' time. How can they do this just because I didn't apply for a British passport? It costs £950 and all these years EU citizens had much the same rights. I understand the idea of. Ot wanting people to come here to live off the state but I came here in the 80s and paid my taxes, etc. hardly ever claimed anything other than during the crunch. The CABs are all short staffed and wouldn't see me, any help and advice most welcome! Many thanks

I get paid universal credit tomorrow and today received a letter that £177 was deducted because it says I had £383 take-home pay. I work as a steward at a football ground and I have only received £40-80 off that in the month 7th April to 6th may stated on the letter it applies, (it said nothing about the work I do as I havnt declared itt) just can't see where they're getting £383 from, what can I do? Any advice appreciated

http://voxpoliticalonline.com/2016/05/11/the-tories-lied-more-cuts-to-sickness-and-disability-benefits-are-on-the-way/ Dear god, how much more can we take....