went abroad

Hi,

A week ago I started getting Housing Benefits, but they are still asking few things to provide and I am quite lost here.

I went abroad few times from September(2012) to March(2013) and I was taking out money and paying in shops there and they saw it as a regular payments to some companies and they are asking what these money were for and provide a proof. I'd like to mention I was not claiming for the HB until the February.

And now I was going to write a letter and explain what these money were for (I was told to do this by One Stop Shop assistant), but I do not know whether I should start explaining the reasons why I went there so often or just simply explain that it is just shops on abroad where I went on these dates?

Even the tickets were bought by my mother-in-law and somehow I still feel nervous, what if they will think that if I'm able to go abroad so often I must be able to pay my full rent also or are they just concerned if I have maybe some loans in other country.

Maybe you know how else my claim could be affected because of this or should I stop worrying?

Any comments will be helpful, thanks!!!