How to come off housing benefit

[ROSE28454]

My friend is on Housing Benefit and ESA ( CONTRIBUTION BASED). He gets a small amount of Housing Benefit and is at present paying off a large overpayment at £10.89 a week from his HB. His ESA finishes in 2 weeks and he is probably going to claim carer's allowance ( cause he is going to look after his parents) and take a small job he's been offered.

 

Now he wants to come off HB but is wondering how he does it. He only gets £15.00 per week after the overpayment is taken out and would rather stand on his own now. Trouble is he is at present being investigated because of the overpayment ( which was large) and made be prosecuted. Also he gets a occupational pension and once his ESA finishes he will pay no tax on that so his income will rise.

 

So should he say his income will rise because of the tax, he is going to claim carers allowance and will possibly get a small job as well. Would he need to provide evidence of all this ? All he has at the moment is the letter saying the ESA is finishing.

 

He suffers with his nerves and the investigation etc is wearing him down and he has realised that he can manage without the HB ( even if he's entitled) and would rather walk away.

Can anyone help?

Edited March 4, 2015 by citizenB
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[citizenB]

If your friend were to stop having the HB, how will he make the repayments to the "overpayment"? I am sure that is one thing they will want to know.

 

I am sure others with more knowledge will respond as soon as they can.

[id6052]

all he needs to do is write a letter to the HB department stating that he wants his HB award to be terminated with effect from the end of ESA

 

please note that terminating the HB is very unlikely to stop the ongoing investigation or a potential prosecution

[ROSE28454]

all he needs to do is write a letter to the HB department stating that he wants his HB award to be terminated with effect from the end of ESA

 

please note that terminating the HB is very unlikely to stop the ongoing investigation or a potential prosecution

 

 

Yes he realises that it will not stop the investigation. So they will accept a letter that says he wants it to be terminated with effect from end of ESA without his having to go into what his income will be. And in answer to citizenB his parents are going to help repay the money.

[citizenB]

Yes he realises that it will not stop the investigation. So they will accept a letter that says he wants it to be terminated with effect from end of ESA without his having to go into what his income will be. And in answer to citizenB his parents are going to help repay the money.

 

I would think that would be acceptable. Ensure that the letter is sent using a tracked method - either recorded or special delivery. Please let us know how things go I would think that simply advising that circumstances have changed and that HB is no longer required will be acceptable.

[ROSE28454]

Does this letter sound right.

"I am writing to inform you that I would like my claim for Housing Benefit to be terminated with effect from 20.3.15. My claim for Employment and Support Allowance ceases on that day and I am going to be caring for my elderly parents from then on and they will be helping me financially" I would be grateful if you could supply me with an account number so I may continue with the repayments of £10.89 per week in regard to the overpayment of my Housing Benefit."

[citizenB]

Sounds ok to me, Rose. Although I would change the beginning of the first sentence to read...

 

"This letter is to advise that I would like my claim.... "

[ROSE28454]

Sounds ok to me, Rose. Although I would change the beginning of the first sentence to read...

 

Thanks will do

[citizenB]

[ROSE28454]

 

 

do you think i should tell them the financially helping bit?

[id6052]

i would stick to just telling them that you no longer want to claim

[bio]

Once your ESA award ends, and providing the Council are notified by an ETD from the DWP, then they will probably write to you anyway, to ask for income details etc. If you ignore the letter, your claim will most likely be cancelled.

[ROSE28454]

Thanks I wondered of DWP would write to them. He is going to get the ball rolling with the carers allowance today so it drops in after ESA finishes. We will see what happens. Dropped basic letter into council access point on Tuesday and have a receipt.