Hi All,
As if I do not have enough problems a letter arrived Friday from my council benefits office. I have been overpaid housing benefit by £5900 and council tax benefit by £1900.
I have been on these benefits for six years ..... the first four I had a limited company and then the last two years just self employed. The overpayment has happened as a result of my accounts for 2011/2012 only finalised by accountant approx four weeks ago. I submitted accounts to council benefits office and as they do not allow certain expenses when working out benefits I had a larger profit than I ever did with the limited company where I drew no wage. Hence two years overpayment of benefits.
So I agree my fault for letting accountant take so long. I still qualify for housing benefit and overpayment is going to be paid back at £15 a week from my new housing benefit figure. However the council tax benefit overpayment of £1900 they want by direct debit on 01/03/13 ..... seven days from when I received the letter!!!!! The lady in the council tax office did not seem to take in the fact that I am on benefits and this is an overpayment and I only have been given six days to find £1900!! Also my council tax benefit has now stopped completely.
My questions are:-
a) Are there any ground rules I should know about for paying back council tax benefit overpayments (i.e. what amount a month is considered fair) or do they hand them over to the DCA's straightaway.
b) Does my housing benefit overpayment pay back scheme sound ok (I think it is very fair and I can afford it at present).
c) If I get my accounts for 2012/2013 to the council benefits office at the end of April (my accountant has already agreed to do them in April) and they are a low profit will the 2012/2013 overpayment be overturned and cancelled for that year because I will be entitled to higher benefit again!!
d) Are benefit overpayments included in bankruptcy as I may well be going bankrupt at end of year.
Any other advice would be most welcome and I thank you in advance.
As if I do not have enough problems a letter arrived Friday from my council benefits office. I have been overpaid housing benefit by £5900 and council tax benefit by £1900.
I have been on these benefits for six years ..... the first four I had a limited company and then the last two years just self employed. The overpayment has happened as a result of my accounts for 2011/2012 only finalised by accountant approx four weeks ago. I submitted accounts to council benefits office and as they do not allow certain expenses when working out benefits I had a larger profit than I ever did with the limited company where I drew no wage. Hence two years overpayment of benefits.
So I agree my fault for letting accountant take so long. I still qualify for housing benefit and overpayment is going to be paid back at £15 a week from my new housing benefit figure. However the council tax benefit overpayment of £1900 they want by direct debit on 01/03/13 ..... seven days from when I received the letter!!!!! The lady in the council tax office did not seem to take in the fact that I am on benefits and this is an overpayment and I only have been given six days to find £1900!! Also my council tax benefit has now stopped completely.
My questions are:-
a) Are there any ground rules I should know about for paying back council tax benefit overpayments (i.e. what amount a month is considered fair) or do they hand them over to the DCA's straightaway.
b) Does my housing benefit overpayment pay back scheme sound ok (I think it is very fair and I can afford it at present).
c) If I get my accounts for 2012/2013 to the council benefits office at the end of April (my accountant has already agreed to do them in April) and they are a low profit will the 2012/2013 overpayment be overturned and cancelled for that year because I will be entitled to higher benefit again!!
d) Are benefit overpayments included in bankruptcy as I may well be going bankrupt at end of year.
Any other advice would be most welcome and I thank you in advance.
Comment