www.iva.co.uk

Hi, I'm in an iva with cleardebt I have over payments with dwp and housing benefit they are not in the iva as payments were arranged prior to that...but I was wondering now dwp want to set up another payment plan to make me pay more as its on the list at one price can they make me pay more as the iva is set on wat I pay now so wat will happen as we won't be able to make the extra payment ? Basically the same with housing benefit we would like to come off housing benefit we only get a really small amount anyway but we are worried about how much they can take from us as we are within the iva obviously we are in this situation as we were struggling we don't want to be back in that situation as so are feeling at her confused with what they can do and can't do

Hi Kerry

Are you saying Housing Benefit and DWP liabilities were excluded from your IVA?

If this is the case (sounds unusual) then you will need to liaisie with your IP to tell them you cannot afford to maintain your IVA contributions at the current level as you're being asked to pay arrears off at a higher level.

If you come off housing benefit and start earning income from another source then your IP will review your disposable income again and your contributions will increase accordingly.

Although your contributions are initially estimated they can be changed from time to time in line with any changes to your disposable income.

Speak to your IP about this.

It does rather sound as though the dwp stuff was from after the IVA started.

Would this make a difference?

I expect it depends whether her IP is willing to allow the new liability as a reasonable expenditure when calculating her disposable income.

Hi

Yes dwp and hb were excluded from the iva as my ip at cleardebt said it couldn't be included as there was payment plans in place at the time of taking out the iva

My partner and I only pay £75 each a month (£150) and I know my tax credits will be going down in April too and tbh our circumstances will not really be changing too much as in myself going out to work as we have 2 kids our youngest is only in nursery my partner may get a small pay rise but we will be no better off as I'm losing money and he's gaining a little if you get what I'm saying so our income will not really be going up at all I've been advises by another company that advises fir free to tell dwp about the iva and see what they say if not speak to my ip which I will be doing tomorrow hopefully.

My partner has been thinking he would like to take us off hb and tax credits in a couple of years and go it alone so to speak but he's worried again about payments to dwp and hb if they don't work with us and ask for ridiculous amounts more than what we are managing now even though we know we would need to pay full rent and the extra to hb for the overpayment.....it's so worrying and confusing as we don't have any answers and Its just guess work my answer to him is let's get the iva over with first and then see about changing our circumstances as all this gives nevsleeoness nights

Speak to your IP about it and see if there's anything they can do to help.

I hope you manage to get it sorted.

Good luck.

Was very surprised by the phone call to dwp today they didn't argue or try any other tactics she just said it was fine and to wait for the next review letter and if circumstances are the same ring and tell them, very surprised by this tbh as I d always found them to be abit pushy.

Thanks guys for your replies about this

Keep a note of who you spoke to and what they said.
Good luck.