Housing Benefit Fraud Enquiry


Here is an example of a typical enquiry we get, with obviously all details removed to reserve strict confidentiality.

Further to my telephone call, I am seeking advice as I was arrested on suspicion of Housing Benefit Fraud yesterday.
I had been arrested on suspicion of fraud, abuse of power in another matter. I had asked for a solicitor to be present and was interviewed. At the end of the interview I was told I was also being arrested for HB fraud. They disclosed to the solicitor that they believed I had committed fraud because of a claim form I completed on which I ticked a box saying I did not receive rent or own another property in UK.
Some time ago, my relative and I had purchased a property together, the mortgage was in my name and hence the land registry record was in my name.
Later, I bought a part share in a housing association property, I have resided there ever since. It was right at the start of the credit crunch and I could not get a mortgage for the 40% share I wanted to buy. In the end my relative took a remortgage on her own property to provide the funds.

So, whilst I had the mortgage on the property we’d owned together, she now had the mortgage on her property for my home. They sort of cancelled each other out and I considered that she therefore owned my share of the property we’d owned together. We have not been able to unravel the mess since the credit crunch and my own financial situation just deteriorated and is now a complete disaster.
I have been ill with depression / anxiety and not really able to work. I have rent arrears on the home I live in, for the share owned by the housing association and no means to pay the arrears or current rent. The HA have a possession order on my home and eviction was likely. I spoke to Shelter and a local charity and was advised to apply for HB with a backdate request. So I applied and was given a fast track interview due to my circumstances.

I was since told in a phone call that they would backdate HB and was told last week they had begun paying the housing association .
I have not received any correspondence from HB querying my claim and I have never received anything in writing confirming they were going to pay it.

Hylton-Potts can help with problems like this. We operate from London offices but help clients all over the country at highly competitive fixed fees.

There is an office hours free confidential hotline 020 7381 8111 and a 24-hour free confidential email legal help service [email protected]

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