Worried about housing check, what do I need to have proof of?

[used2bthin]

I am worried about the check that is happening later this week. A housing officer is coming to my house to (I think?) check that I do indeed live as a single person with DD. Also to check my paperwork which is the bit I am worried about as I am a bury my head in the sand type and don't keep track. What is the most money you can have and still claim housing benefit? Someone on here said 3000 before it affects benefit but I can't find any info on it on the DWP website. Also that doesn't include DDs trust fund does it? And would I get into trouble if I've gone over the 3000? I was worried I could have been over paid tax credits so have deliberately not spent some of the money in my account and at certain times of the month when HB has gone in but not back out iyswim I have a lot in my account, with my savings it could have got to about £3300 a couple of times and of course one of those times was the month before last which is when they want the statement for.

bump

which agency is doing this "housing check"?

Its my local council

Don't think I explained that too well. What I am asking is, what is the limit for savings and what happens if I have gone over it without realising? Also what counts as savings, would DDs child trust fund be included? If anyone knows about this I'd be really grateful. I feel really stressed with the paperwork and have got so much else on my mind that I'd let it all get really disorganised.

You can have 6k in savings before means tested benefits are affected. Between £5k and £16k of savings and means tested benefits are reduced, over £16k then they cease.

If they are coming to check your claim they will look to ensure all bills are in your name only, nobody is named on the tennancy and you have no unexplained incomings to your account. As long as you have completed the paperwork truthfully then you have nothing to worry about.

Thanks Happymummyofone I think I spoke to you the other day. So I can have up to 5k before it got affected? Not that I could very easily have that amount but good to know I haven't gone over. Has just occured to me my aunt gave me a cheque recently for £250 which is why the amount was more than usual that month, they will want to know what that was won't they? She gave it because she came into inheritance and wanted to pay for DDs wardrobe will they object to that? Everything else will be fine no fear of anyone else on bills or anything like that (chance'd be a fine thing atm!). I've got so much stress atm with DD that it couldn't have come at a worse time and I feel really worried by them coming round to check up on me even though I haven't knowingly done anything wrong!

is this a tenancy check? then they will be checking your tenancy - ie. how many people live there - youa re who you say you are - so proof that you are used2bthin and not a polish illegal.

if they want to look at your bank statement - say no

this isn't communist russia

they do not have this authority.

proof of id. so a bill, passport, birth certificate - it should havebeen explained in the letter what kind of proof they are looking for.

instead of worrying - phone them up - i find it highly unusual that they would come to your home to look at your housing benefit claim.

please phone hen in the morning and ask.

209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:82LwbD3hEE0J:www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/benefitsproof+housing+che ck,+what+do+I+need+to+have+proof+of%3F&cd=4&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk

this seems pretty comprehensive regarding what proof you need and benefits

but this says that they will visit you at home - if you ask.

which is my experience also - which is why it makes me think its a tenancy check

209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:1LlaUHgT8gAJ:www.bristol.gov.uk/redirect/%3Foid%3DMultiPartArticle-id- 14350014+council+tenancy+audit&cd=15&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk

this gives a little info about a tenancy audit.

you should google 'tenancy audit xxxxx' and put in your council to get more info

yeah prob right.

i'd tell em to get to fuck and meet them at their offices if its to do with benefits.

and i wouldn't let them look around my house either

what they gonna do - evict me?

they can;t screw em.

Thanks Custardo I rang them and they said bank statements and all the proof I showed to claim the first time. I said ok but can't remember what it was! I am a private tenant so not sure if it could be a tenancy agreement? My landlord came and did a check in January then we renewed the tenancy. I think it is about my HB claim but why now I don't know, I've been here a year and a half and claiming HB the whole time.
Shineoncrazy diamond from your penguin thread I THINK we may be in the same area so it could be an area thing. I feel a bit like I have to go along with it or they will make my life difficult by asking to see bank staetements for the last year or something, last time they asked for more than they needed, I had lost one so ended up paying bank charges for a replacement which they then said they didnt want . Its all a bit intimidating though isn't it? They gave me two weeks notice so I'm sure if I did have illegal immigrants living in my bed or similar I'd have had plety of time to hide the evidence anyway!

so it sounds like a benefit check?

as you are still not sure, why not ring back and ask them specifically why they are doing this and what is it for.

i am confused - so you must be!

Thanks yes good idea both of you, think I will ring and see who it is coming because I realised I actually don't know who is coming. I really don't think I will have all the paperwork they want because I have phoned for a statement for my online saver and they said it won't arrive till next week. Its tough though I'll just have to send it in after if they need it. Glad to hear that I'm not the only one who has gone over 3k, snap, large outgoings and DD is on high rate DLA so that part is her money although it goes into my account.
Its not SODC but not far off, I am under O city council. This is the first I have heard from them sinc my claim a year and a half ago!
So when you say don't mention tax credits will they not see how much I get anyway? I need to ring tax credits today and give them my income but I'm sure I owed them last time and I know what they are like, my cousin has owed over a thousand twice now so I always try and make sure I could cope if that happened to me or if my car needed something doing.

Oh yes forgot about that, they have probably taken back the couple of hundred I owed gradually then. Although it was for a joint claim with XP so not sure what happens there oh well! The DLA is partly why I have more in my account though, will they discount that from the amount there is do you think? Take your point about not sounding defensive yes I will just show them the paperwork I've got and say I'll have to forward the rest when I get it. I think they may not be happy but not much I can do now. Oh yuck I have been avoiding filling out the form better do it I suppose!

My partners had a letter saying his housing officer is coming out to carry out a tenancy audit from stoke on Trent council?? But I cannot do with the housing officer she's a right jobs worth!!!! We have kids together but I only stay with him a few times a week. Does anyone know anything about these visits?????

No it’s 6k before your hb would be affected not 5k I think the 5k was a typo.

Piper It's his tenancy not yours and as you don't live there you don't need to have anything to do with the housing officer.
Councils do an annual check of the property so they check it's in good condition and that the only people living there are the ones registered.

Why is she a jobs worth?

I am on the tenancy but my name won't come to light properly yet until i am back from my Nan's as she is in hospital. We own everything together and the council are aware of everything that's going on.
We have had to pay out so much money since moving in due to the house being a state ...luckily now due to my fells killing himself doing things the council should of done the house looks like a home for our babys.
The housing officer is not reliable at all she doesn't believe anything my fella says and he's the most honest person on the planet. she never does anything that's asked ....I could go on.
I went to the housing office so she can be changed and even the women in the office said she needs changing.... so that said it all really.
All I want to know is if anyone's ever had these tenancy audit visits and what they are about???

Why are you on the tenancy if you don't live there?

Anyway as I said it's an annual vist to inspect the property and check its not being misused and is in good condition. That's all. Every council tenant has an annual inspection.

@piper1985 yeah the housing officer sounds like she's the problem 🙄

Pityparty4one......I'm on the tenancy as a second person and if anything happens to my fella then the house will automatically go in my name. The council are aware that I'll be moving in and they are aware we are together but like i said I'm looking after my nan at the moment so I'm between both houses