Housing Benefit Questions

[AimeeL]

Hi all

 

I had my housing benefit stopped due to a benefit sanction of 2 weeks, I was told to go and to the council and declare nil income for the period of the sanction so I would get my housing benefit paid and then the council would be notified of the fact my JSA is active again and I would be paid as normal from my next payment date in April.

 

I have 2 questions really

 

1. Will the council automatically be informed about my JSA being paid again or have I just been told this to get me off the phone?

 

2. The council have sent me a letter asking for the last two months bank statements, these I don't have as I only get online statements and I have been told by my bank to request a paper statement will cost £25 per monthly statement I need. Will print outs be enough of my online statements?

 

Thanks for the help

[MARTIN3030]

1. Will the council automatically be informed about my JSA being paid again or have I just been told this to get me off the phone?

 

It should be done automatically,but I would inform your BO yourself for peace of mind.

 

2. The council have sent me a letter asking for the last two months bank statements, these I don't have as I only get online statements and I have been told by my bank to request a paper statement will cost £25 per monthly statement I need. Will print outs be enough of my online statements?

 

It is well established that many people now choose online banking and paperless statements.

Halifax will allow a one off supply of postal statements FOC.if you have not already done so,and have online banking.

 

Statements printed from your online account should be acceptable,in any event there are numbers on there now in which they can check the authenticity of them if there is any doubts.

 

 

 

[feelingsad]

The HB office at my local council told me they are separate from the DWP and are not automatically told of any changes to DWP payments. I would keep them updated yourself to be sure, I always do.

[id6052]

It is your responsibility to notify any changes to the HB department in writing.

 

Although the DWP do share some information with HB, this does not remove your responsibility.

 

If you do not tell HB (and DWP don't either), you are the one who could end up losing out on benefit or having to repay an overpayment.