Help- Interview Under Caution

emma2511

Please can someone help me I have been send a letter saying I need to go in for an interview under caution the only thing I can think this is for is because I am a single mum with two children but I have a boyfriend who stays with me a few nights. He doesn't live with me, he has his own place where he pays rent and council tax, but I think someone has reported me because he comes up to my house most days. He doesn't always stay and he has not financially helped me in anyway (we have been together about 9 months but only started staying over in the last four or so months) The query seems to have arrisen with my council tax benefit, I don't recieve housing benefit and I don't get the full amount of income support as my ex husband pays me child support. I have recently found out I am pregnant and had a slight bleed so in all honesty he did stay over a little more than normal as he was helping me with the kids. I a really scared what will happen to me now, I honestly thought (probably very stupidly) that I was ok as I pay all the bills/shopping etc and that he has is own house which is paid for by him. We are actually talking about him moving in in the next couple of weeks due to us having a baby, so I would be off the council tax benefit and income support then anyway. I'm really so scared can someone please help, I'm terrified i may get a prison sentence!
Thank you for taking the time to read this.

surfsister

i can't help with the practicalities but thinking of you. Surely if you can show them proof he pays rent elsewhere it should be ok and maybe keep apart for a while till it's sorted? could try citizens advice very good with this stuff as they know al the rules. Good luck!

tiannaleigh

Im no expert but I have known a couple of people who WERE living together get caught and neither of them went to prison they just had to pay money back,but I really would think that with you having proof that he has his own home that he is paying for you will be o.k,please try not to worry to much I really think you will be alright ,just try and stay calm for you and the baby's sake,its a shame that you are having all this worry whilst you are pregnant,hope it gets sorted out quickly for you

emma2511

Thank you so much both of you, I think the pregnancy hormones are making this even worse lol. I am worried they have been watching me in which case it would look like he lives with me as he often comes to mine straight from work and unless someone's sat outside my house all night they wouldn't see him leave. It just feels so awful because I'm struggling enough as it is right now, I'm going through a very nasty divorce and barely make end meet each month, I could understand if I was charging my bf money everytime he stayed but he doesn't give me a penny! I can prove this if I show them my bank statements it shows all my bills and shopping going out of my account and no extra going in and if they looked round my house they would see that I'm hardly living the high life lol! I have a feeling my ex has reported me, this wouldn't be the first time he has made my last yr hell by reporting me to social services 3 times with made up accusations, which have been proved false but this has still took it's toll on me with the worry. Sorry to go on just feel like I really can't take anymore and now I'm pregnant it feels even worse.
Thanks again for taking the time to reply

cattie

Just tell the truth when you go for the interview. Yes they will already have assembled the evidence they need before deciding to call you in for IUC.

Take somebody with you for support too. You won't go to prison, so don't worry yourself sick about that. The worst that can happen to you is that they consider you're not entitled to ctb & may have to repay money, but if your bf has his own place & paying rent & ct there then you should be ok.

Try to get some experienced welfare rights advice, such as cab as suggested.

alwaysonthego_2

As Cattie says you need to seek urgent advice from a welfare and benefits worker at the CAB.

It is very unlikey you will get a prison sentence, the worst case scenario would be paying the benefits back.

Pepzofio

If your boyfriend has his own home which he is maintaining (i.e. paying rent, CT, utilities etc) then he cannot be considered to be part of your household. If he was getting full HB/CTB it might be another matter, but as you've said he pays all himself then I don't think you've got anything to worry about.

It is for them to prove that you are living together as a couple, not for you to disprove, so just some photos of him leaving the house in the morning will not be enough to find against you. Having said that, if you can provide proof, so much the better. Make sure you take copies of all your household bills (showing your name) and his TA, bills, CT statements (in his name at his address) with you.

I would also mention the false accusations your ex has made to social services and give a contact name of whoever dealt with these (and found them to be baseless).

alwaysonthego_2

Pepzofio wrote: »

If your boyfriend has his own home which he is maintaining (i.e. paying rent, CT, utilities etc) then he cannot be considered to be part of your household. If he was getting full HB/CTB it might be another matter, but as you've said he pays all himself then I don't think you've got anything to worry about.

It is for them to prove that you are living together as a couple, not for you to disprove, so just some photos of him leaving the house in the morning will not be enough to find against you. Having said that, if you can provide proof, so much the better. Make sure you take copies of all your household bills (showing your name) and his TA, bills, CT statements (in his name at his address) with you.

I would also mention the false accusations your ex has made to social services and give a contact name of whoever dealt with these (and found them to be baseless).

This is not true but I do not want to worry the op any further so this is why she should consult with a specialised adviser at the CAB. The DWP look at a few factors such as children together, time spent together etc. I agree that it is up to them to prove that the op is part of a couple.

c0113tt3

they will have a lot of questions to establish if you lthaw.

such questions will include about social time spent together, kids, laundry, eating, household choirs, money / bills etc..

once those questions have been answered it will be sent to a decision maker.

due to an interview under caution they firmly suspect / have eveidence that they believe you are a couple, or should be treated as a couple. so best thing you could do is prepare for such questions and have a honest approach.

seek advice from cab as prior stated and try to get them to attend with you. it is very unlikely any custodial would be given unless it was very firm and deliberate fraud / deception, and is very likely that you would have to pay back benefit.

char_student

Seen this on a programme on bbc a few months back. They just made her pay the money back. They may have been watching you, (in all likelihood they HAVE been) and if they have seen your bf staying over that is what they are basing this on. As c0113tt3 says, they will look at many things - PRACTICAL things.

char_student

c0113tt3 wrote: »

they will have a lot of questions to establish if you lthaw.

such questions will include about social time spent together, kids, laundry, eating, household choirs, money / bills etc..

once those questions have been answered it will be sent to a decision maker.

due to an interview under caution they firmly suspect / have eveidence that they believe you are a couple, or should be treated as a couple. so best thing you could do is prepare for such questions and have a honest approach.

seek advice from cab as prior stated and try to get them to attend with you. it is very unlikely any custodial would be given unless it was very firm and deliberate fraud / deception, and is very likely that you would have to pay back benefit.

The CAB dont usually offer a service where they offer a representative. (I know, I work at a CAB, although each one is different). Def go seek some advice though from CAB as soon as you can