FFS this is beyond a joke now - housing benefits nightmare :(

[TeamTrueBlood]

I sold the business at the start of September. I have been perfectly honest about the business from day one (I know some people would have not declared it to benefits as it wasn't making any actual money). I contacted them to say I had sold it. (Again, I was honest and said it was sold)

My last payment was 13th September.

On 9th October (10 days before my due date, 1 day before our next payment was due) I had a letter saying my benefits were being suspended until I provided x,y,z details and they could go through it all.

I went down in person, handed everything over, sobbed a bit, filled in an appeal form about an error they still hadn't fixed from the past, was told it would take about 2 weeks, and went to borrow money from my mum to eat...

A couple of weeks later I get a letter saying they need more information, again, I took it down in person (about 2-3 weeks ago... DD2 was still young enough to be under midwife care I know that).

Our next payment date has been and gone, thankfully DH had a bonus so it has covered us for that.

Today - post came, still not heard, so I called.

They haven't even looked at the most recent information yet, and it can take 3 weeks from looking at it?!!?!?! The woman said she is moving it to the department now and to call and check on Friday, but still - wtf?!

I have no idea if on Friday it is to find out if they have just got the paperwork, or if they have dealt with it.

We have no more "savings" to cover us for the next payment. We will eat as we have a credit card, but then we have to pay interest so everything is going to cost that much more.

Our tax credits have changed, DH's pay has changed (plus they will need to know about the bonus), our whole status in general has changed due to DD2 being born, but there is no way in hell I am sending them the new information to adjust it all again until they have reinstated payments. (past caring about the fact that they will only increase it - if an increase is meant to happen - from the date they get the info rather than the date of the changes)

I can see why people lie/don't declare everything now Honesty has given me weeks of being worried sick about money when I should be enjoying a newborn.

I know you lot can't do anything to speed it all etc, I just needed to get it off my chest!

(Tis Flamesparrow btw)

the last thing you need really isn't it!

If it makes you feel any better i got a parking ticket for parking in the disabled bay of the council offices last week- the joke was that i was taking in my old cripple blue badge and picking up a new one- but as there was no badge displayed (they even took photo's ) i have to pay the fine!!!

OP - this is from directgov website (my asterisks added):

"How long it takes to decide your claim

Your council must deal with your claim for HB/CTB within 14 days of receiving all the information from you that they need to work out your entitlement; or as soon as possible after that. If you are a private tenant your council should make the first payment within 14 days of receiving your claim. *If there is a delay in assessing your claim for HB you can get a payment on account to help you with your rent until HB is assessed,** provided that you have not failed, without good cause, to provide evidence or information which the authority has requested and reasonably requires to assess your claim. [HB Reg 89(2), CTB Reg 75(2), HB Reg 91(3), HB Reg 93(1)]."

Citizens Advice should help you with making a claim for payment on account, or go back and quote the regulations

Thank you for that - they say it doesn't apply as it isn't a new claim

iheartdusty is right - they should process it within 14 days.

I had to make a complaint to my own Council about HB last week as they too exceeded the timescales.

If your Council will not process immediately then complain to the Local Government Ombudsman whose website says he will handle complaints that have still not been processes 4 weeks after the Council has the information they require.

They cannot try to say it doen't count because it's not a new claim - they are witholding your benfit for an unreasonably long period. You need to complain, preferably in writing, to your Councillor. Your Council webiste will give you his contact details.

These delays are happening across the country as every Housing Benefit claim must be recalculated now Child benefit is no longer counted as 'income' - so you can understand why this is tying up all their staff's time.

Best wishes

the irony is they sent me a recalculated due to child benefit claim (based on old numbers and then said in the how it is to be paid in bit, that it wasn't because it was suspended )

calling again tomorrow, will get arsey firm and put it in writing too.

just spotted "or as soon as possible after that."

Contact your MP, I used to work in a council tax department and I know that we had to prioritise MP queries so you will get it looked at quicker.

Come see!!!!!

Sorry to hear that your council is dragging its heels getting you sorted out. I work at a local council and know that our benefits team tries to get things through as speedily as possible. I would advise you to:

1. Make a formal written complaint to the council (can be email), not to the benefits team but to the customer services officer/team. This will be dealt with by someone who doesn't work in benefits, and will generally get you a response asap. If they're good, they should go and light a fire under someone's arse for you.

1. Copy in your complaint to your local councillor/s, saying that you hope they can help you get this sorted asap.

1. If no joy, then go to your MP, who will write a letter in. TBH, this should be your back-up because the first two points should get you where you need to go.

Good luck!

if its a council house - your housing officer will chase for you - its in their best intrests to get the rent in.

also - its not the end of the world - if it's a council house - and you owe rent in this situation. It will probably get backdated to the date you made your claim.

if its private rented it is a different matter.

I would phone them and pester them as much as you can

the old addage "the squeeky wheel gets the oil" is ver true.

Letter arrived this morning saying they are paying us, it should be in my account now, back dated n everything

Christmas is back on!

(Tis a private rent btw)

Now just have to confuse them all over again by sending a huge envelope with tax credits changes, details of DD2, DG's pay change, xmas bonus....

Glad to hear you've heard from them and are being paid pronto. Hope they'r enot so tardy when you send in the new bundle of info