Hi, Here is the problem.
I work part time on a zero hour contract, but I usually get around 16 hours at just over minimum wage. My partner is unemployed at the moment.
In Feb this year we put in a claim for Housing benefit and Council tax benefit, went to see the advisor about our claim, all went ok, she told us exactly how much we would receive for both of the benefits, £154.10 HB every two weeks and full CTB, at the end of the interview we asked about my partner signing on, if it would affect the claim, the advisor said it would not.
So every four weeks I take in my wage slip as requested and the benefits get adjusted depending on my average hours. In April I took in my wage slip and a letter to prove my partner had started to receive conribution based JSA, we didnt receive any letters to say this had affected anything, so when I took in May wage slip I asked for them to look into it as we didnt want to be overpaid, the low and behold end of May we get letters saying they have overpaid us nearly £500 in HB and we now do not receive CTB, they are reclaiming the HB overpayment from subsequent payments. This has reduced our benefit down to £12.41 a week.
Now we went to ask about this as obviously it will mean we dont have enough money to live on, we have had to appeal in writing about their decision, which we were told may take up to six weeks.
What I want to know is who is in the wrong? the first advisor or the benefits office for not updating our details, as we have done everything by the book.
I'm so confused by it all right now, should my partner sign off, and we go back to just claiming against my wages, or hope that he can find a job soon, he applies for jobs every week and hears nothing, has signed on with an agency but nothing has come from them either yet.
Any thoughts what we should do?
I work part time on a zero hour contract, but I usually get around 16 hours at just over minimum wage. My partner is unemployed at the moment.
In Feb this year we put in a claim for Housing benefit and Council tax benefit, went to see the advisor about our claim, all went ok, she told us exactly how much we would receive for both of the benefits, £154.10 HB every two weeks and full CTB, at the end of the interview we asked about my partner signing on, if it would affect the claim, the advisor said it would not.
So every four weeks I take in my wage slip as requested and the benefits get adjusted depending on my average hours. In April I took in my wage slip and a letter to prove my partner had started to receive conribution based JSA, we didnt receive any letters to say this had affected anything, so when I took in May wage slip I asked for them to look into it as we didnt want to be overpaid, the low and behold end of May we get letters saying they have overpaid us nearly £500 in HB and we now do not receive CTB, they are reclaiming the HB overpayment from subsequent payments. This has reduced our benefit down to £12.41 a week.
Now we went to ask about this as obviously it will mean we dont have enough money to live on, we have had to appeal in writing about their decision, which we were told may take up to six weeks.
What I want to know is who is in the wrong? the first advisor or the benefits office for not updating our details, as we have done everything by the book.
I'm so confused by it all right now, should my partner sign off, and we go back to just claiming against my wages, or hope that he can find a job soon, he applies for jobs every week and hears nothing, has signed on with an agency but nothing has come from them either yet.
Any thoughts what we should do?