Housing benefit, contibution esa and council tax

Hi,

After a long battle, I lost my housing benefit, and esa means tested benefit. I have been left with PIP and contribution esa. I am highly disabled, however after I was given a back payment I went over the amount of savings I could have. I never had to pay council tax before. Do I now have to do this. If so I am going to be struggling even more than before.

Many thanks

I worked and contributed to NI for 10 years from 1998-2010 when I had to leave employment due to refractory epilepsy. I was not aware but I was put in the contributions and income related esa group. Then later they put me in the esa support group which was why I was then given a back date of £14,000 I think that was 10 years ago. They contacted me about moving to universal credit this year which is when I realised that I have too much savings. Hence, they removed my housing benefit and income related esa. I have been left with PIP (which I am now concerned about being removed) and my contributions esa. My epilepsy affects my memory because I have brain damage and I am so confused trying to remember everything.

Hi Danielle if your savings include that backdated payment, it shouldn't be counted as income . Did you make them aware if that was the case? This sounds to me like an error on the DWP's behalf and I have heard of it before.

Hi,

I have stayed in the same property which is with haringey council. I took it over in 2000 when my mum died. As I said previously I became disabled and could no longer work so I went on to housing benefit. That has now been taken away from me so I am currently paying rent to haringey council. I am so worried that I will now have to pay council tax as well now.