Please please help! Benefits, Dwp & bank statements

lillylilly23

Hi there can anyone please advise.  

I received some inheritance in December 22 so I cancelled my ESA & housing benefit as it was over the cap (19k) . Plus it was a chance to get away from it all.  my housing payment actually continued as they said I was still entitled to it and sent me this in writing. I had met nice guy who was spending time in between here and his job and parents house.  He was helping my out finisclly too so I didn’t have to go back on ESA. We decided to move in together November 23 so I called the local council and ended my housing claim and council tax. We both split them both down the middle.  Knowing this we need we were no longer entitled to any help benefit wise other than my pip so my mum gifted me money so we could live together and not have to panic for another year. 

Today the DWP called me and said my ESA claim wasn’t shut because they had not had paper evidence of my inheritance which I was confused about because I had not received money in over a year. 

They said I need to sen them my bank statements for going back all the way to December 22 which I don’t understand. I thought they would just need the statements of the dates I got the inheritance?? I’m worried that they will persecute me for getting extra financial help from my mum and my boyfriend event tho I was no longer claiming ESA but just some HB.  They made me feel like I was a in huge trouble and I don’t understand because I tried to do everything correctly. I claim nothing but PIP now and my money I am trying to make last as long as possible.   Will they say that my boyfriend sending me money every month was fraud? My mum didn’t send every month but just helped out with bills for my credit card and a failed holiday because I was too ill. which will come out of my future inheritance.  

I’m really scared they will say I’ve done something wrong.   I don’t understand why I have to send them over a years worth of statements. I wasn’t reciving money from them and have not had any ESA since January 23. It’s now March 24.  

This is making me sick with worry.  Please help if you can with advice I feel like my world is caving in when I. Finally thought things in life were getting better.  

poppy123456

I'm confused why ESA are asking for bank statements when your payment actually stopped. I'm also confused why your housing benefit continued because having savings of more than £16,000 should have ended all means tested benefits, including council tax reduction. Did your council tax reduction also stop? It should have. 

Are you sure the letter you received is for ESA and not for housing benefit?

Regarding your question, even if your ESA hadn't stopped you would not get into trouble for receiving money off your mum because that isn't treated as income, it's treated as savings. 

lillylilly23

poppy123456 said:

I'm confused why ESA are asking for bank statements when your payment actually stopped. I'm also confused why your housing benefit continued because having savings of more than £16,000 should have ended all means tested benefits, including council tax reduction. Did your council tax reduction also stop? It should have. 

Are you sure the letter you received is for ESA and not for housing benefit?

Regarding your question, even if your ESA hadn't stopped you would not get into trouble for receiving money off your mum because that isn't treated as income, it's treated as savings. 

Yes, it stopped in January 23. They said in the system it was just “suspended” and I needed to send proof I had the inheritance. From the day before it was paid in.  

I didn’t understand the HB or council tax either but the guy at the council insisted I was still entitled and even sent in writing so I didn’t question it. The call was definitely from ESA.  The first chap I spoke to on the phone said just send statements of when I got the inheritance. When I called back to confirm the Second Lady said I needed to send a year or statements???. My boyfriend was giving me money monthly of over £300 a month to help me with costs, our holiday & debts and electric so I didn’t have to go back on benefits before he moved in officially in November 23 and I cancelled the HB claim. I’m really confused and afraid I wasn’t actually entitled to housing and they will say I’ve done something wrong or worse go to prison. I’m out of my mind with worry. 

poppy123456

You will not be sent to prison. You also won't be in any trouble for receiving gifts (money) from anyone because that isn't income.  

I just find the whole situation very odd. Even if your ESA was just suspended, you said you didn't receive any payments so I don't understand why you need to send bank statements. 

For your housing benefit and council tax reduction, if they do chase you for the overpayment, you have proof that they sent you a letter telling you that your payments will just continue. Official errors for legacy benefits such as housing benefit are not recoverable. 

lillylilly23

poppy123456 said:

You will not be sent to prison. You also won't be in any trouble for receiving gifts (money) from anyone because that isn't income.  

I just find the whole situation very odd. Even if your ESA was just suspended, you said you didn't receive any payments so I don't understand why you need to send bank statements. 

For your housing benefit and council tax reduction, if they do chase you for the overpayment, you have proof that they sent you a letter telling you that your payments will just continue. Official errors for legacy benefits such as housing benefit are not recoverable. 

Thankyou so much for your replies.  I really appreciate it I feel very shaken from it all. I’ve tried to be transparent as I was so afraid of ever doing wrong by them. I still do not understand why I need over a years worth of bank statements even tho I no longer claim. She said the account was just paused/suspended it and they needed it to close but also incase I wanted to reclaim in the future to prove I haven’t spent the money but  But I don’t intend on going back to benefits and have not had anything from esa in over it year so I have no idea why they need that much info. It’s very odd. I thought they would just need the statement months of when the money was paid in to prove it’s gone in  it’s very incase and they have made me feel like I’ve done something wrong. I don’t receive anything now other than PIP because it’s not means tested. Very odd indeed. I just hope it all goes ok.