Pensioner saved from being evicted for rent arrears
CHAC Case study
Michelle’s story
Michelle was a Council tenant on pension credit - all her rent and council tax was paid by housing benefit and council tax support. When a misunderstanding resulted in Michelle’s benefits being stopped, she accrued rent arrears in excess of £2,700, with arrears increasing by £106 per week.
The Council's Benefits Department believed there might be two people living with Michelle and had requested more information. Michelle had written a confusing letter in response which led the Council to believe that there were two people living with her, both of whom were thought to be working fulltime and on high wages. The resulting non-dependent deductions meant that Michelle was no longer entitled to housing benefit or council tax support.
How CHAC helped
After we discussed the situation with Michelle, it was clear there was nobody living with her - the two people concerned were just friends and not occupiers of her property.
The outcome
We made a successful appeal for Michelle which resulted in the reinstatement of weekly housing benefit payments of £106 and the receipt of a backdated housing benefit payment of £2,763. This cleared all outstanding rent arrears. Michelle’s Council tax support was also reinstated from the month it had been stopped, clearing all her council tax debts.
Finally, as Michelle had health problems, we advised her to make a claim for Attendance Allowance. Michelle agreed and we arranged for her to get advice from Canterbury & District Citizens Advice.