A PENSIONER said he felt threatened after he received a letter from Wycombe District Council stating his housing benefit of over £115 a week could be suspended after a change in his circumstances.

Peter Moreton, who lives in Roman Way in Bourne End, was sent a letter last month to say his housing benefit would be suspended as WDC benefit services had been informed he had a change in circumstance.

However, as the 79-year-old was not aware of the change and he says the council would not divulge the information, he did not know how to ensure his account was kept up-to-date.

Mr Moreton said: “This letter came right out of the blue and it concerned me, I felt like they were suggesting I was in the wrong for having not told them there had been a change in my circumstances.

“The letter was addressed to me and it said my housing benefits would be suspended, if that was the case I would have to go down to the food bank as I would not have enough money to live on.

“I spoke to the council and they wouldn’t tell me what had changed, and how was I meant to know. If this is sent out to everyone who receives a 25p pension increase at the age of 80 then that isn’t right.

“Many people would have real concerns about this and it could easily cause stress.”

Had the issue not been resolved and his housing benefit was suspended, Mr Moreton said he would have only been left with around £70 income to live from every seven days.

In the letter addressed to the retired RAF troop, he was not told what circumstances had changed but was given a list of possibilities.

These included someone in the house starting work, if income or rent or savings increase or decrease, someone joins or leaves the household or there is a birth of a baby.

Any change in child care costs or if child benefit ends would also have had an effect.

Mr Moreton added apparently my benefits were reinstated days after the letter was sent, but I didn’t know until today (Tuesday, September 2), which could have led to extra stress and worry.

WDC spokesman Sue Robinson said: “We don’t comment on individual cases through the press but we are happy to continue to speak with Mr Moreton in person about his benefits if he has further questions.

“Our standard practice is to alert people if there may be a change in circumstances which could trigger a possible change to their benefit entitlement.

“And we invite them to contact us so we can work with them to ensure they are getting the right amount of benefit to match their circumstances.”