Hi, my name is mimi9393! Why would there suddenly be an overpayment in HB and CT?

mimi9393

I hope you may be able to help. I love with my mother because of her care needs:

1 mother receives ESA, PIP daily living  and  mobility standard
2. I get UC, carers allowance not working.

recently my mother’s housing benefit and CT has been reduced with an alleged overpayment because I live there and get carers allowance.

I was always of the impression that I was not counted as a non dependant due to the fact that mum gets pip for daily living and I am her carer. 

Why would there suddenly be an overpayment in HB and CT as they say this now dates back 3 years as they did not know I lived there. We both never knew there was anything to declare as I am exempt and not working and never have been.

any help please??? It is causing untold stress as they say we now owe them money which if we were aware would never had allowed to add up

kellysuzanne

Hi, am having the same problem right now! My daughter turn 20 and gets pip and she now on universal credit and am her carer and now am being told they be a shortfall no idea how they work it out but apparently I have to find 25 pound a week to cover rent n council tax and have told them my situation but they not listening and don’t seem bothered even though have lost a lot of money a week due to my situation so am struggling to keep up with gas n electric and just getting by anyway and now this! Not working as yet although I am looking. So it just like no care from them. And it very frustrating as no one knows grey area. 

poppy123456

kellysuzanne said:

Hi, am having the same problem right now! My daughter turn 20 and gets pip and she now on universal credit and am her carer and now am being told they be a shortfall no idea how they work it out but apparently I have to find 25 pound a week to cover rent n council tax and have told them my situation but they not listening and don’t seem bothered even though have lost a lot of money a week due to my situation so am struggling to keep up with gas n electric and just getting by anyway and now this! Not working as yet although I am looking. So it just like no care from them. And it very frustrating as no one knows grey area. 

For your housing, are you living in social or privately rented? Are they including a deduction because your daughter is no longer a dependant? If so then they shouldn't be if your daughter has no earned income while claiming UC. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/non-dependants

For council tax if you were claiming the single person discount when your daughter was a student then you will no longer be entitled to this so this could be why you now have to pay more for this.

However, because you are her carer you can claim the carers discount which is 25%, as a carer you will not be counted for council tax purposes but you need to speak to your local Authority to apply for this because it's not automatically done. (I live with just my adult daughter and claim this for council tax) If you live with other adults that are counted for CT purposes then you won't be able to claim this discount.

See link. https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/financial-support/help-with-bills-and-household-costs/help-with-council-tax/

For your daughters UC has she reported her health condition?

kellysuzanne

Thank you I will look into it many thanks