Thanks everyone, I think your best wishes for me worked today The bailiffs didn't turn up to the hearing, but a solicitor from the council did. She asked to speak with me prior to the hearing so we had a chat and I gave her a copy of my 'statement' to read. She seemed quite shocked when I told her the debt stands at 7K as, from their point of view, I now only owe 4K having paid over 3K off the loan already. It also became apparent that the bailiffs DIDN'T pass my income and expenditure form to the council (they're adamant I didn't send them one even though I did) and apparently the payments being made had not been AGREED WITH THE COUNCI

It's perfectly normal in this situation. The purpose of the visit is for them to establish how long their relationship has been a "partnership" and to perform a check of their benefit entitlement with the change of circumstances; now they are a couple, the amount they can claim may increase or decrease, depending on their pooled income and capital. Your mother declared him living there from the start so she hasn't done anything wrong, she's been completely upfront about the matter from the beginning, long before they decided they wanted to be a couple.

Yes. They have fourteen days to make a decision. If they have not made a decision within that timeframe, and have the information they reasonably require from the claimant, they should make payment on account. This is outlined in regulation 93 of the Housing benefit regulations 2006.

OFT GUIDANCE S77-78.doc Been a long time since I attached a document BD, hope this has worked!