Hi, my name is Kimkim52!

Kimkim52

I am a single mum with a son dla to pip trail I won but while waiting put me in rent arrears carnt find £600  need help 

BenefitsTrainingCo

Hi Kimkim52

I'm wondering if your rent arrears have built up as a result of a housing benefit problem? Local authorities (that make housing benefit awards) suspend payment if they think there is a chance of an error having been made. This frequently happens when a benefit stops but it is unusual for it to happen when there is change to someone's DLA or PIP. The important thing is to act as quickly as you can and i suggest you contact your local authority as soon as possible. It may be that your housing benefit can be put back in to payment to cover the present and the past period. If your local authority says they can't do this i suggest you ask them for the date of the decision to stop your benefit as it may be that the decision can be challenged. Bear in mind that there are usually time limits for challenging decisions and so if this is needing to be done i suggest you contact the Scope helpline as soon as possible to get further advice. The number is 0808 800 3333 Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

David

Kimkim52

Hi Dave they told me it's an overpayment of housing benefit as it stop due to b.Cuts my income support.my carers.All stop I am with housing association.they took me to court june2016.for arrears £1.000 so don't no why I've got that on top.also had older son livening here he wasn't working but they say he was and I fouled to tell them which is a lie coz overpayment. £932.down to £500. Then Bill for £600. I won my son's pip so taking the papers down tomorrow but not sure what there do as don't get housing benefit as on universal credit of £234.for a mth me and my twins 

BenefitsTrainingCo

Ok, i'm guessing a bit here as to the details of your circumstances. But i suspect that perhaps your income support stopped when your son's DLA ended (this would usually happen). I suspect your son initially received a negative decision on his PIP application and that this was later changed by an appeal tribunal(?). If the tribunal decided your son is entitled to the daily living component of PIP it means the decisions to stop your carer's allowance and income support were wrong. Your housing benefit probably should have continued throughout although it's not unusual for there to be problems.

To cut to the point, it may be possible to successfully challenge these decisions. But there are time limits involved and the longer it is since all this happened the more difficult it is likely to be. You will almost certainly need help from a benefits specialist with this and i suggest you try to find out what local services are near you. If you are unsure about local services then contact the Scope helpline and they should be able to direct you.

Finally, you should make new claims for each benefit in case you are unsuccessful in challenging the previous decisions.

David

Kimkim52

Ok yes everything you wrote is right but I am on universal credit which replaces 6 different benefits so I've been told by job center I cannot claim 

BenefitsTrainingCo

Ah, i see. If you are on universal credit your options may depend on where you live. What is the first part of your postcode (we won't need the last part)?

Kimkim52

Rm17

BenefitsTrainingCo

Hi Kimkim52,

You live in an area where universal credit has not been fully introduced. This is important as it means it is possible to withdraw your UC claim and return to the old benefits you were previously getting (ie income support and housing benefit). You will need specialist help with this though and also to check that you have not lost any housing benefit during this period.

I suggest you contact the Scope helpline as soon as possible to get information on local advice agencies in your area who can help you with this. The number is 0808 800 3333 Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

Best wishes,

Michael