Im losing my home

@Jessabell2017 Sorry to chip in but my son and family are paying back an overpayment and have been for some years now. You can ring Tax Credits and arrange a smaller amount to pay back, no more than you can afford. You have to fill in a form I think about your income and expenditure to prove you can't afford what they're taking off you. Please find some help with doing this if you're struggling. Hope that helps.. 

Hi @Jessabell2017

An eviction notice needs dealing with immediately and by a professional. You can find details of housing advisers local to you using the tool on Shelter's website http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/advice_services_directory my advice is keep calling round until you find one that can take you case on as a legal aid case. You may also be able to find benefits advisers in your area through this - also your housing association may have some (they're normally called Money Advisers but sometimes do benefits too).

With your Tax Credits, @Wildlife is quite right that the HMRC should reduce deductions where this is causing hardship, but it is quite unusual for them to stop a claim altogether - make sure that your claim is actually still live, as if not this could cause further issues for you. This needs to be your number 2 priority after the eviction, as with 4 children you will not be able to survive without your tax credits.

With your Housing Benefit - is this at 50p because you are subject to the Benefit Cap? If so then it's worth asking your council to consider a Discretionary Housing Payment to cover at least some of your rent. Even if you've been turned down, I would reapply making the point that you have an eviction notice due to rent arrears and 4 children who could be made homeless.

Let us know how you get on - absolutely anything further you need to know please do get back in touch!

Kind regards,

Mary