Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit dispute

[sjc1985]

I work but dont earn a lot so I have housing benefit and council tax benefit to help me. Last May, I had my yearly review, met the reviewing officer at my house and showed her the proof I had of my earnings (I am self employed). I queried expenses and was told that they allow between £10/15 a week in petrol for my sort of job and it is taken into account.

 

I heard nothing further so carried on paying my water rates until July last year when I received a letter telling me I was nearly £300 in arrears! As you can imagine, it shocked the life out of me! I rang them immediately and was told to write in and appeal but to give them 6/8 weeks before I followed it up as thats how long a review can take.

 

I did this and had to chase them several times including another letter and eventually last November I got them to review my housing benefit and council tax benefit and they found that I should only have been paying my water rates as I suspect. HOWEVER, they only decided this when the new legislation came in saying Child benefit no longer counted as income.

 

This didnt help me with my arrears and I again phoned them to explain that they hadnt sorted it and AGAIN wrote to them explaining that they needed to look at the period between May 09 & November 09 during which time my accounts clearly show that I should have been receiving full housing benefit and that they have underpaid me during that time!

 

To this date, I have heard nothing despite calling again several times. Any advice please? I am struggling to repay this debt and am not sure why I should be paying it when it was their error.

 

Off the back of this dispute, I have been taken to court for council tax arrears from the same period so I now have that against me and bailiffs chasing me but that is a seperate issue that I will address on the bailiffs board.

 

Thanks

 

Sarah