Benefit problems nearly cost me my home

Rosa De Silva, Leicester

I have three children, and I work part-time. I have been getting Housing Benefit since I split up with my partner several years ago. It had always been paid straight to my landlord. I don't have to do anything except reapply every year, and tell them when things change.

Suddenly in March I got a letter from my landlord saying that my rent arrears had now grown too large and that he would start possession proceedings. He said I owed over £400!

I couldn't understand how I had any arrears as I knew my benefit was still being paid. I had no idea I owed him any money and didn't know how I could pay it off! I had been to see an adviser when I had difficulty the year before, so I made an appointment at the same agency and took all my papers.

The adviser realised that every week Housing Benefit were paying £7.50 less than the amount of my rent, which was wrong. She phoned the council and asked why. The benefits officer said it was because I had a 'non-dependent' living with me. At home, it was just me and the kids, and had been since my mum died last year.

I had informed them when my mum had died. I couldn't remember if I had received a letter from them with a new decision, because I was very upset at the time. My adviser spoke to a Benefits Officer who confirmed that they had made a new award in May, but they thought my mother was still alive and living with me. I had sent them a copy of my mother's death certificate, but they had obviously ignored it!

I was upset by the idea that I needed to appeal the decision (which would take ages) and worried that my landlord might throw me out before anything could be sorted. My adviser said that I probably wouldn't need to make an appeal, because it was clear that a mistake had been made and that it could probably be put right quickly. She sent the local council evidence that my mother was dead and that I had informed them the year before. She explained that I hadn't been well enough to notice that their decision was wrong because I had been depressed. Housing Benefit were able to revise their original decision in 2 weeks and my landlord agreed to wait for the money. Now I've still got my flat.

January 2007