Ive made a stupid mistake

[annie4567]

Well I have made a stupid mistake, by not declaring I had a child living at home when I claimed housing benefit, and knew eventually I would get found out....I have been such an idiot, and I hope no-one will judge me, no-one can really say anything to make me feel worse than I already do.

 

Anyway this had played on my mind and I knew I was doing wrong, I was in a situation where it was sink or swim, I made a decision, and had to, to try and keep a roof over mine and my childrens head.

 

My daughter had a letter sent to her work, asking about income and address details and told me I knew straight away I had been caught out and straight away I phoned housing benefit and confessed, I didnt mention the letter, they told me to put it in writing which I did and now I have to wait and see what happens, I have read a lot of stories on here and people seem very helpful.

 

What I wanted to know is, obviously I know they suspected anyway, but now I have told them, will they still investigate me, I have spent the last few days in a daze, worrying, stressing out, in a state of panic. I keep waiting for a letter from them, to tell me what will happen, and its the not knowing and waiting that is really getting to me...yes I have done wrong, and for reasons of desperation, but all in all, I claimed money that wasnt mine. Just wondered if anyone had been in a similar situation, I wrote in the letter that I know an overpayment has occured and that I will be obliged to pay the money back, which I am obviously willing to do, I know I will not beable to pay it all back at once, I am in enough financial trouble, but could offer a sum on a monthy basis or will they suggest some kind of payment installments. I know I have committed benefit fraud and I am not proud of myself, infact am deeply ashamed.

 

All I wanted to know now, is what may happen next, I have said in the letter I am willing to send in payslips for my daughter.

 

This situation has had me living on a knife edge for the two years I have claimed, knowing I may get caught out and so many times, wanting to tell the truth, little too late now I know, but in my heart of hearts I new straight away I had to ring and tell the truth, and yes more so because I knew I had been caught, I keep telling myself, why oh why didnt I ring them and just tell them, I cannot keep torturing myself, as I cannot change the fact that I was awarded money I wasnt entitled to.

 

Sorry for babbling, just at my wits end with worry now.

 

Can anyone offer me advice on what I can expect to happen now?

[Life-Goes-On]

It's mostly a waiting game.

They will send you an overpayment letter, take advice on if the amount is correct.

Once you know it's correct arrange a payment that you can afford and keep too

 

Then it's the wait to see if they charge you with fraud, again take advice if they do.

 

Edit: It's good that yo are cooperating, and that will count in your favour.

[MARTIN3030]

Welcome to the site.

The fact that you are here telling your story and asking for help,in itself shows remorse.

No one is here to judge.

There are other threads here which have concerned the same issues.

Its impossible to say with any certainty just what the outcome will be.

But if you are honest and co-operate as you are doing-it will certainly be more favourable.

[annie4567]

Thanks for the reply....I am very remorseful, and willing to co-operate as much as I can..I have taken the first step and told the truth, and I know no-one can probably tell me what might happen, I feel better for just writing my thoughts down, this has really got me worried, and have read a lot of other threads on here, but a lot of them never really have an ending or an outcome.

[MARTIN3030]

Yes unfortunately,many do not return to update,I can understand that though,as after weeks and sometimes months of worrying,those facing these investigations are just relieved when its over and want to forget and get on with life again.

[ErikaPNP]

If you are able to tell me approximately what your daughter earns on a weekly basis, and able to say for approximately how long she's been living with you, I can estimate the amount of the overpayment for you.

[annie4567]

Thank you Erika, its over an 18 month period or there abouts and her annual salary is 18827, so on a weekly basis her gross pay would be £362.00.

[ErikaPNP]

Okay. Benefits go by 'weeks' rather than months, and the deductions can alter with each tax year (though sometimes stay the same), and themselves are dependent on income, so I'll work it as close as I can. This is only an estimate remember - as I do not have the exact dates or the figures, it will not be 100% accurate, but will be 'in the region of'.

[annie4567]

Ok Erika....I would appreciate that, thank you.

[ErikaPNP]

Right, at an estimate the overpayment will be in the region of £3474.90, based on an 18 month period (calculated in benefit weeks) and a weekly income of between £306.00 and £381.99, in addition to changes in the applicable deductions during the period.

 

From now, any housing benefit award will be reduced by £55.20 per week, to take into account your daughters income.

[annie4567]

Thank you Erica, I hadnt thought about the amount, and I am shocked really, I hadnt realised how much her income would be taken into consideration, blimey I dont receive 55.20 a week in contributions from her, as she has a lot of debt herself, and pays me £150.00 a month......my thinking now is, is it worth claiming housing benefit at all, as by those figures I am not going to get any help with my rent. God knows how I am going to manage, receiving nothing at all....I have no option of other housing, council told me, cos I have a roof over my head my chances of getting a council house is slim, housing associations have nothing for me, I am now worried more than ever as I know full well I cannot afford to pay the rent on my own, and yes I could ask my daughter for more money but it will not cover the shortfall in my income, I tried to pay the rent on my own for 10 month after my partner walked out on me, and I ended up in a total mess, if it wasnt for my mum helping me out, I would of gone under and ended up homeless, I never wanted to go down the route of housing benefit, but in the end I had no choice.

 

I do appreciate your help, and the cause of my worry is not down to anything other than my own foolisness, I have been left in a situation of living in a private rented house that was totally affordable when 2 incomes were coming in, but with my income on its own, it is just not enough....but my options of finding somewhere else to live, private rented, is not an option, my ex left me in a lot of debt and my credit record is now very bad. Gosh now I am thinking what the heck am I going to do!

[Desperate Daniella]

Hi Annie,

 

I clicked on your thread because of the title. I can't help with any practical advice, but I would say that so many of us on this forum know how dreadful it is to be flat broke, and I can completely understand why you did what you did. No-one should judge you for that.

 

If you offer to repay what you can afford I hope the benefits people will be reasonable. After all, they cannot get what you don't have.

 

Follow Erika's advice, and see what they say.

 

I wish you all the luck in the world. You wouldn't be in this position if your partner hadn't left, and how could you have expected that when you took on the tenancy.

 

DDx

[terriersaregreat]

Is it worth trying to go on the council house list? Have you thought of speaking with your MP?

[annie4567]

Thanks Daniella.....well i will repay anything I owe, no matter how long it takes me, I am flat broke, and will be more so now I have got myself into this mess, my mind is racing now...I feel sick thinking what am I going to do.....

[Desperate Daniella]

Annie,

 

You mentioned your ex has left you with a lot of debts. Can we help you with those?

[annie4567]

I went on the council list but it is all about bidding for a house now, they catagorised me in the lowest category which means I am not a high priority, I have bid for quite a number of houses, but I never hear anything, I once rang the council as it read to me if you get a bid in first, in the category you are in, then you stand a good chance, it listed me as the first to bid on a particular house, and when I didnt hear anything I rang them, and was told, just because I got the first bid in doesnt mean I would get the house, it depends how many others bid and their needs might be greater than mine? I explained again I cannot afford to live where I do, its too expensive, even with the bit of help I did get, but it goes on deaf ears, I mentioned making myself homeless in desperation but they said they do not recommend that. I sometimes feel I am hitting my head against a brick wall....I am slipping further into debt, and with this overpayment looming, it is going to be even more financially difficult for me to live, jesus at the moment I can not afford to do a weekly shop, I budget like mad. Damn I am in a mess

[terriersaregreat]

Please try not to panic. You have your daughter and you must try to stick together. It's never a good time to think in the evening try to keep your head. There is so much support on this site. Will probably need to give a bit more information so you can get the help you deserve.

[annie4567]

Well the debts he left me with, were ones that were in my name, (i wont make the mistake of having things in just my name only again) I stupidly had most of the bills set up in my name only as it was me who sorted everything out... I have rang and made arrangements to pay set amounts, which I do keep up with....most of the time, so my debts are kind of managed, I also have some debt of my own, credit card mainly which again I pay on a monthly basis.

[terriersaregreat]

I expect someone will be along soon who has had the same problem. Hang in there. When is your next rent date due?

[Desperate Daniella]

You are in a mess, but you can get out of it.

 

The reason I asked about the debts is because you can probably reduce what you are paying on them which would give you more money to pay the rent. If you have had the debts for some time you may also have the DCAs (debt collectors) and we can tell you how to deal with them.

[annie4567]

I understand I should not panic, and I know my daughter is a good lass, but I seriously do not think she understands how hard it has been for me. I rarely talk to anyone about my finances, but I broke down at work this week. I am under enough stress at the moment, my mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer at the beginning of the year and I have had to spend a lot of time looking after her, I am not looking for sympathy, but I do wonder sometimes how much more my head can take, I am a strong person,

 

Sorry if I am going on...

[Desperate Daniella]

Our posts crossed! Most utility companies are now being reasonable. A lady at British Gas, for example, told me recently that they have been re-trained so that instead of threatening immediate cut-off, court orders, and so on, they have now been told to be helpful. My own experience tells me that despite what they all threaten it very seldom happens, if ever. If you pay them something they are very unlikely to do anything.

 

As far as the credit cards are concerned, who are they with? Are you struggling to keep up the minimum payments. Did you pay PPI on any of them because you can claim it back?

 

Before I found CAG in 2008 I felt just as you do now. This site is a God-send and we'll help you.

 

Just ask any questions and we'll all try to help you.

[Desperate Daniella]

You are dealing with so much. I know that you won't want to tell your friends. Moan as much as you like. Why shouldn't you get some sympathy?

[annie4567]

My rent due on the 28th....which I have got, as I did receive my housing benefit at the beginning of the month, plus I put away money on a weekly basis, then take a chunk out of my wage when I get paid. I know next month, my benefit will probably not be paid, my daughter has offered to put her contribution up by an extra £50....I am just going to have to tighten my belt again....its just wondering if i can manage to pay everything.

[Desperate Daniella]

That's why I think it is very important to reduce your other commitments. You have to eat!