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Original poster

Help! Hudge Mistake!

96 replies

Wenderrs · 30/04/2022 14:50

My husband and I separated in 2017, I moved into council flat, ex husband stayed on in home. I continued with Tax credits, not entitled to housing benifit as I owned family home jointly with ex.
in the havoc of lockdown and to see if I could get help with my rent I took this to apply for UC.
i have not paid attention in filling this form online and skimmed past the page with owning property has been on, as none of the rest applied to me and all boxes were already placed with NO in them.
just had meeting with work coach where I asked when would I start paying my rent again? As I’d not heard anything and was getting worried!!
well now I’m out of my mind with worry! I have always told them about property since 2017! I thought this was already on the system. Have been given a form about asset and equity. I think the last 2 years of this pandemic I’m to pay it all back!
if I had known what I was doing? Or realised a mistake I certainly would not come of one benifit I’m entitled to, too go on another I’m not!
if anything I’ve frauded myself!!!
can I go back to tax credits? As on UC I’m not entitled to one pence.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 30/04/2022 14:53

I don't think you can go back to tax credits once you move to UC as eventually they are moving everyone over

Threetulips · 30/04/2022 14:53

So you own a house your ex lives in? Does he pay you rent?
Are you still paying half the mortgage?
why haven’t you sold it since 2017?

dementedpixie · 30/04/2022 14:54

Can you come off the mortgage with your ex?

DrBrennerFan · 30/04/2022 14:55

This UC has caused more misery than any other benefit I know. It’s appalling .

Original poster
Wenderrs · 30/04/2022 15:23

we have 3 children the oldest would not move with me into the flat and wanted to stay in his home. We agreed to keep house in for less disruption for them. We have valuation of home from 2017 at which my equity is involved. I have not contributed to the home since then.

OP posts:
WallaceinAnderland · 30/04/2022 15:29

I'm not sure I understand. How did you get a council flat when you already had a house to live in?

PrincessRamone · 30/04/2022 15:32

I think you need your ex to buy you out of the house.

Original poster
Wenderrs · 30/04/2022 15:32

As I could not stay with partner for other reasons

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 30/04/2022 15:33

Can he and you not arrange for you to be taken off the mortgage?

WallaceinAnderland · 30/04/2022 15:34

Did the council know that you already owned property when you applied for a council flat?

Floofyfoofy · 30/04/2022 15:34

I don’t understand why you would have gotten a council flat when as far as they know you have a house.

You haven’t paid any rent/mortgage since 2017?

Skimmed past page on form…yeah.

Original poster
Wenderrs · 30/04/2022 15:36

I would still be classed as having equity cannot just right that off.
got myself in a tight mess with this covid.
only person in world that owes money back for pandemic time.

OP posts:
MayorDusty · 30/04/2022 15:37

Too many people are ignorant of how Council housing works....

UC is well known for being punitive like this OP does he pay you rent?

Original poster
Wenderrs · 30/04/2022 15:39

from my equity I need to pay back UC, which is the rules.
it’s the same money I would of got on the tax credits I was on and entitled too.
I can’t believe I’ve done this.

OP posts:
Elsiebear90 · 30/04/2022 15:41

Were the council aware you owned a house when they gave you a flat? Tbh I am suspicious that you apparently skimmed over the first page of the application and forgot to mention you had a large asset…

Original poster
Wenderrs · 30/04/2022 15:41

No he pays mortgage and I paid my own rent up till lockdown

OP posts:
Original poster
Wenderrs · 30/04/2022 15:42

Yes they knew everything I have and never did hide any fact or asset. Everything was declared 2017.

OP posts:
Original poster
Wenderrs · 30/04/2022 15:43

I paid my own rent to flat as was not entitled to housing benifit because I owned property

OP posts:
WallaceinAnderland · 30/04/2022 15:44

As far as I am aware, you cannot just voluntarily leave a property you own and apply for accommodation through the local council. You would have to declare your 50% share in the house. Did you do this OP?

Billandben444 · 30/04/2022 15:44

What's it got to do with the pandemic?

WallaceinAnderland · 30/04/2022 15:44

X posts

OhLordyWhatNow · 30/04/2022 15:45

Your equity is tied up and you don't have access to it until the house is sold?

Capital over £16,000 would mean you would not be eligible for UC, anything over £6,000 will be taken into account on a tapering basis.

Are you running separate households? Are you officially separated/ divorced?

MayorDusty · 30/04/2022 15:45

Unless it's part of a maintenance arrangement him not paying you rent may go against you too.
Can you get some benefits advice locally?

OhLordyWhatNow · 30/04/2022 15:47

Who owns the property?

You

Him, or

Jointly

dementedpixie · 30/04/2022 15:48

OP says its jointly owned with no plans to sell it

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