I recently received a letter asking me to attend an interview under caution about possible benefit fraud. I was unsure what i had done so I attended thinking it was a mistake.
During the interview they showed my claim form and asked if it was all correct and they asked if there had been a change in my circumstances. I said the only circumstances that had changed were i had a pay rise in the september. they asked why i had not informed them of this and of the little bit of overtime i had done over the last year. (they had contacted my workplace for the last years payslips). I said i had phoned working tax to tell them of the pay increase. They asked why i had not informed housing benefit but i said that as i informed working tax, i didnt think i had to as they had been in touch with housing benefit as i had an adjusted housing benefit award letter.
I assumed that they would ask for payslips whenever they needed to see them. I know this was naive of me now..
The interviewer kept asking if I knew that the pay increase would change my benefits and i said yes.. however i thought i was still doing the right thing by informing working tax.
to cut a long story short I was sent a letter informing me that i was to pay an administrative penalty of 30%. I attended another meeting to try and say my case but they weren't interested, it was either sign and agree or be prosecuted. they also informed me that ontop i will have a one strike sanction which means I will lose my benefits for 28 days.
I came out feeling very upset. I really didn't do any of this intentionally, in future I will be handing my pay slips in each month and informing them of any little change. It really is not a nice feeling being accused of benefit fraud when the only thing I am guilty of is not handing in my payslips.
over the year i was overpaid £580 housing benefit and 280 council tax benefit. I have no argument paying the money back because i obviously wasn't entitled to it. I already have paid over 300 back, i just think its unfair to be charged an extra 30% plus lose a months benefits.
I work hard and only claim benefits to help me out as i am a single parent. I only wish that i would have seeked help before i had my interview.
During the interview they showed my claim form and asked if it was all correct and they asked if there had been a change in my circumstances. I said the only circumstances that had changed were i had a pay rise in the september. they asked why i had not informed them of this and of the little bit of overtime i had done over the last year. (they had contacted my workplace for the last years payslips). I said i had phoned working tax to tell them of the pay increase. They asked why i had not informed housing benefit but i said that as i informed working tax, i didnt think i had to as they had been in touch with housing benefit as i had an adjusted housing benefit award letter.
I assumed that they would ask for payslips whenever they needed to see them. I know this was naive of me now..
The interviewer kept asking if I knew that the pay increase would change my benefits and i said yes.. however i thought i was still doing the right thing by informing working tax.
to cut a long story short I was sent a letter informing me that i was to pay an administrative penalty of 30%. I attended another meeting to try and say my case but they weren't interested, it was either sign and agree or be prosecuted. they also informed me that ontop i will have a one strike sanction which means I will lose my benefits for 28 days.
I came out feeling very upset. I really didn't do any of this intentionally, in future I will be handing my pay slips in each month and informing them of any little change. It really is not a nice feeling being accused of benefit fraud when the only thing I am guilty of is not handing in my payslips.
over the year i was overpaid £580 housing benefit and 280 council tax benefit. I have no argument paying the money back because i obviously wasn't entitled to it. I already have paid over 300 back, i just think its unfair to be charged an extra 30% plus lose a months benefits.
I work hard and only claim benefits to help me out as i am a single parent. I only wish that i would have seeked help before i had my interview.