Hello everyone,

I have recently found rightsnet and this is my first ever post.
Please can you help me I have never come across such large and extensive recovery from shedules before and I am unsure of what LA 's can and cannot do. My most recent case (i,e,yesterday) our LA reclaimed nearly £700 for one tenant from our schedule because they have received returned post from the tenants address. One of my staff was advised "the decision was taken on 02.10.09 to end her benefit because of the returned post".

My question is, can they do this? We have not had any formal cancellation of benefit or a housing benefit overpayment notice?

Any and all help would be appreciated.

Thank you Jackie

Is the tenant still resident in the property in question?

... and if not, did you know?

..........and who returned the post, which I assume was posted through the tenant's letter box, and then picked up and returned to the Council by a third party?

if the royal mail return letters, they do so with a label stuck on saying why returned so you could ask to see those...

This earlier thread may be of interest:

www.rightsnet.org.uk/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=8460&mesg_id=8460&page=

I don't agree with every nuance suggested by "Stainsby" but, in broad terms, the thread should be helpful.

Maybe tenant is retuning post due to being in debt... I see this occassionally, with tenant thinking creditors will stop harassing them...

Thank you all for your comments. I have done some more digging on the case and it would appear to stem around a lack of dialogue between housing officers, income officers and HB. I am however in contact with the HB Department so I will keep my finger crossed.

Thank you for your support

Jackie