Fri 14-Nov-08 02:33 PM by pipkin

Oh flipping heck.. Ive tried my bestest to explain this is to a client, but he doesnt grasp it..

Cant just be me, has anyone got a very simplistic expanation of how these work and the impact on the rent account for the tenant.. Maybe using diagrams..

Any thoughts anyone...?

lots of local auths seem to use the same terms in their claimant info .. for example -

'If you are still receiving Housing Benefit, the overpayment will be recovered from your future benefit payments by weekly deductions. These deductions are known as “clawbacks”.

You are responsible for paying the difference between the benefit paid (after clawback) and your rent.'

What about...

"The council says that it paid you too much money. The council says it paid you £x amount too much. It says that you have to repay this money back to the council.

So the council are going to keep back £y every week/months etc. until you have repaid the money back. So that letter you got saying you are entitled to £a aevery week, ignore it. There is a seperate letter that says what there are going to actually pay you.

It will take you z weeks/months (years!) to pay the council back the money its says you owe it. After z weeks/months your benefit will increase back to the amount you are actually entitled to.

Are you sure you don't want to appeal?".