Apologies for the long thread.
I have an upper tier tribunal hearing tomorrow.
I won the first tier tribunal hearing but the local authority appealed it. The judge agreed to hear it based on their opinion that the LA have mishandled all their cases based on how they're handling mine.
I'm absolutely in pieces. I'm not sleeping, I'm agitated and frustrated. I'm worried that the LA are going to win even though the first judge thinks I have a good case.
Basically, I was in a homeless unit but was on UC. Because I was claiming the housing element of UC, this was removed and I had to apply for housing benefit. UC stipulates that I am considered a claimant as long as I receive a statement, whether it's £0 or £1000.
The LA are trying to argue that because I was on a £0 statement, I wasn't a UC claimant, even though every UC advisor I've spoken to, and the first tier judge, disagree.
They are trying to seek payment of £2400 of housing benefit that they think I wasn't eligible for.
They have £800 ish already because I was paying it back but the first judge told me to stop. The LA then refused to return as they were appealing.
This has been going on since 2020 and I'm so exhausted, and poor, and tired and angry.
Has anyone got any advice to ensure I keep a level, factual head and try and win this?