Hello,
Thankyou for taking the time to read this.
I had been claiming Jobseekers, but ended my claim to start my own business. I am currently making no money from this, and living on a small amount of savings.
Housing Benefit kindly said they'd continue to pay their benefit as a 'run on'.
I live as part of a 'property guardian scheme', which is a fancy name for long term house sitting. My licence agreement (as it is called), states that I have a "Licence to occupy Maryfield [remainder of address]", for £220/month, until further notice. It makes no mention of a flat number. When I first opened my claim, Housing Benefit took this agreement as proof of residence, without query. I also verbally gave them a flat number.
All was fine until two weeks ago, when I told them in passing that they had entirely mispelt my address. I also told them (in passing), that I'd moved upstairs into a different flat, because the boiler downstairs was broken. (Ice cold showers!) This time, they did require written proof of flat number, so I sent it them.
They responded with two letters today. One states they are stopping the benefit dead, and the other bills me for over a thousand pounds "overpayment". The overpayment is where I moved upstairs.
Since the licence agreement I first provided to them has no flat number on it, going upstairs seemed inconsequential - of no real interest to them. As per the agreement, I always did, and still do live in "Maryfield". The agreement also tells them that all Maryfield flats are charged at £220/month, so it's not as if they have been paying me more than they would have otherwise agree to.
I know this was a basic oversight on my part, but it was only that. I am truly stuck - my savings would not even cover a third of this bill.
Thanks so much for reading all this!
And...any ideas?
Richard
Thankyou for taking the time to read this.
I had been claiming Jobseekers, but ended my claim to start my own business. I am currently making no money from this, and living on a small amount of savings.
Housing Benefit kindly said they'd continue to pay their benefit as a 'run on'.
I live as part of a 'property guardian scheme', which is a fancy name for long term house sitting. My licence agreement (as it is called), states that I have a "Licence to occupy Maryfield [remainder of address]", for £220/month, until further notice. It makes no mention of a flat number. When I first opened my claim, Housing Benefit took this agreement as proof of residence, without query. I also verbally gave them a flat number.
All was fine until two weeks ago, when I told them in passing that they had entirely mispelt my address. I also told them (in passing), that I'd moved upstairs into a different flat, because the boiler downstairs was broken. (Ice cold showers!) This time, they did require written proof of flat number, so I sent it them.
They responded with two letters today. One states they are stopping the benefit dead, and the other bills me for over a thousand pounds "overpayment". The overpayment is where I moved upstairs.
Since the licence agreement I first provided to them has no flat number on it, going upstairs seemed inconsequential - of no real interest to them. As per the agreement, I always did, and still do live in "Maryfield". The agreement also tells them that all Maryfield flats are charged at £220/month, so it's not as if they have been paying me more than they would have otherwise agree to.
I know this was a basic oversight on my part, but it was only that. I am truly stuck - my savings would not even cover a third of this bill.
Thanks so much for reading all this!
And...any ideas?
Richard
