Letter from the Customer Compliance Team

mealone

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I have posted questions on more than one forum before. Why not, what's wrong with it? Maybe the OP is feeling stressed and anxious and just wants to get as many answers as she can.

Don't see why it's a problem.

It isnt a problem per se but some people post on a few forums with slightly diffrent problems or angles to see which is the best for them, how often do you see posts here when they dont like the answers say they are going to lie to get out of the situation?

How many posters this week have asked about living together or living with a partner who has lost there job change when they are told sorry no benefits?

Breast_Cancer_Survivor

mealone wrote: »

You said this is a recent dignosis for the autism, when and how were you diagnosed?

Its extremly hard for adults to be diagnosed with autism and other similar problems, in kids it usually peads or educational phsycologists and they dont work with adults as a rule so many adults are snookerd when they look for diagnosis or help.

I was diagnosed in 2006 at the age of 33, my son was diagnosed & his consultant noticed that I had the same traits.

He referred me to the Transition & Liasion Team at Kettering where I did numerous tests, they also interviewed my whole family, consequently I was diagnosed too.

These things are apparently hereditory, my younger son was also diagnosed with ASD in 2007.

mealone

Breast_Cancer_Survivor wrote: »

I was diagnosed in 2006 at the age of 33, my son was diagnosed & his consultant noticed that I had the same traits.

He referred me to the Transition & Liasion Team at Kettering where I did numerous tests, they also interviewed my whole family, consequently I was diagnosed too.

These things are apparently hereditory, my younger son was also diagnosed with ASD in 2007.

That information might help other adults with suspected autism, thanks

AsknAnswer

Breast_Cancer_Survivor wrote: »

I apologise if ive insulted anyone as it was not my intention, when I feel like im being personally attacked I automatically jump into defence mode.

As you can all see I do have problems communicationing, I misinterpret the things people say & feel like they don't understand me or what im saying.

Think of it as practice! Although you can have someone there with you, they will ultimately expect the answers from you, your supporter or representative can explain your answers more clearly and can offer you support but they can't answer for you. Unless of course they are seeking a qualified person to verify the effects of your illness. If they are asking for example, "how much time does your boyfriend spend here?" or "what does he do in terms of caring for you"- The answer has to come from you. Again we jump into appointeeship territory here - only someone who is legally appointed to act on your behalf by the secretary of state can answer those types of questions for you, because ultimately your therapist isn't with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and she is not claiming the benefit on your behalf. You are the claimant and you are the person who they are looking at for the answers.

I'll put a different spin on it for you where similar rules would apply. If you were a witness to an incident and had to attend court to give evidence, suffering from mental illness you would qualify for "special measures" under the Vulnerable witnesses act. special measures can include a range of measures to make it easier for you to give quality evidence, such as givig your evidence from behind a screen, giving it via TV link, or having a supporter sit with you. If you opted for a supporter, their duty is to sit beside you and offer comfort. They cannot answer the questions for you and they cannot clarify your answers. They didn't witness the incident.

Hopefully you see what I am saying. If they do ask questions such as how long your boyfriend spends there and what he does in terms of care or support, don't automatically put up the defences and think they are trying to "stitch you up" - they are not. They are trying to clarify two things: Yes, the first thing will be "is this lady declaring the true nature of the relationship and could they be considered partners for benefit purposes" - again, not a stitch up - they just need to clarify the situation. The second thing they will be looking at will be "if she needs that much assistance perhaps there are additional benefits she may be entitled to" - For example carers allowance, although he would need to be caring for you over 35 hours per week for this.

Sometimes these investigations benefit us. I've been investigated for Tax Credit Fraud myself, numerous times. (one of my ex's favourite games is to place a mallicious report against me at least once a year - one to Tax Credit and one to Social Work, evil sod) They actually discovered my assessment had not been calculated correctly and increased my award. My pension contributions had been taken into account and it shouldn't have been, so I got an extra £500 that I wasn't expecting. So there you have it. A walking, breathing example of an investigation which benefited someone.

These things are sent to try us, but more often than not are actually helpful. The general rule is this - if you aren't doing anything wrong then you have nothing to worry about.

LondonDiva

I'm also really concerned that you are expecting your OT to attend this appointment with you and I'm still not clear what her role in the meeting is.

Are you mixing her up with your Keyworker as this is not within the remit of an OT.

If you are expecting your OT to attend, have you formally asked her to do this, as her boss would not be happy that she was attending benefits /welfare related meetings with you when there is a waiting list for the services she is actually being paid to do.

If you do really need support and a letter from the OT team is not enough, contact your council's welfare rights team or the many other suggestions on the thread such as CAB.

Coupon-mad

LondonDiva makes a good point above - it is quite possible that an OT would not be able to attend such a meeting even if she were not off sick. They have a specific job to do, which doesn't include sitting in on benefits meetings I am afraid.

There are advocacy schemes which can help though, if you can find one.

OP, have you found out if there is an advocacy scheme in your area? I know the first time you met the advocate they would be a stranger, but they would be there to make sure your voice is heard (which is I think what you are saying you need?). And in future such meetings, maybe the same person could attend with you each time, someone who gets to know you well.

If there is a local Autism support group in your area, they may be able to suggest where you can find an advocate.

Sorry if any of this has already been said, I was skim-reading a bit!

Breast_Cancer_Survivor

LondonDiva wrote: »

I'm also really concerned that you are expecting your OT to attend this appointment with you and I'm still not clear what her role in the meeting is.

Are you mixing her up with your Keyworker as this is not within the remit of an OT.

If you are expecting your OT to attend, have you formally asked her to do this, as her boss would not be happy that she was attending benefits /welfare related meetings with you when there is a waiting list for the services she is actually being paid to do.

If you do really need support and a letter from the OT team is not enough, contact your council's welfare rights team or the many other suggestions on the thread such as CAB.

Tricia, my OT was a member of the original team that diagnosed me in early 2006 & was only initially supposed to meet me 6 times to plug me into the relevant services I needed for support.

Unfortunately a few months after being diagnosed I was also diagnosed with Breast Cancer, consequently ive spent the last 2 years going in & out of hospital to have operations to reconstruct my breasts, all of which have failed.

This has ultimately intensified my depression & anxiety and I admit at my lowest I did try to OD, id imagine this is the reason she is still around, I did have a key worker & a psychiatrist briefly but they left & they didnt replaced them.

I don't know what the NHS is like where you live but our trust has cut all of the mental health services right back, maybe this is another reason she is still around.

Having her with me just makes me feel calmer if anything, if i get upset or overloaded she can calm me down & explain the reason why im reacting that way and explain any misunderstanding on either part.

I phoned her when I got the letter & she offered to come, she has been to all of my medical appointments, the hospital even consulted her before doing my bilateral mastectomy as they were unsure whether I understood the long term implications.

I have nothing to hide & have full backing from both her & my GP regarding the level of support I need at home with myself & the children, It helped me win my higher DLA appeal as I was initially turned down for appearing too high functioning.

It might sound daft but the thought of someone I don't know coming into my home to question me is terrifying as I know how I come over to people, they don't understand me & I don't understand them.

At the moment I feel Tricia is the best person to support me during meetings as my health situation is complicated & she has been there and seen me at my worst.

starbabe79

just thought i would add that i had a letter ,followed by a visit from the customer compliance team back in january when i was on benefits,and it turned out to be just routine. was simply a case of them double checking everything , seeing some i.d and bills etc and me signing a form stating that i was still living alone at the time.

Garry_Anderson

Thanks DMG - I do have good intentions - to warn BCS so she is prepared - so it is not "scaremongering".

healy wrote: »

It is not relevant to the OPs situation. The stuff that you keep posting do not confirm she will be "stitched up" with staff trying to meet targets and keeping their manager happy. They are there to check the situation not to falsify anything. You are paranoid.

No - I am not delusional in any way - I have a copy of their file used to 'prosecute' me and AO guides i.e. conclusive proof of a systemic 'stitch up' culture.

e.g. Whilst trying to 'do me' for fraud - they said permission was required before starting work again - when on IB40 the inclusion of the rather casual "tell us if you work" does not imply any pre-immediacy or urgency, no warnings. No mentions of getting permission anywhere even in ambiguity. I told them after four hours therapeutic work, hardly the behaviour of a person committing an illegal offence. (a) After telling them, what do they think I was trying to get away with? (b) After getting medical advice, why would they refuse me permission anyway?

healy

Garry_Anderson wrote: »

Thanks DMG - I do have good intentions - to warn BCS so she is prepared - so it is not "scaremongering".


No - I am not delusional in any way - I have a copy of their file used to 'prosecute' me and AO guides i.e. conclusive proof of a systemic 'stitch up' culture.

e.g. Whilst trying to 'do me' for fraud - they said permission was required before starting work again - when on IB40 the inclusion of the rather casual "tell us if you work" does not imply any pre-immediacy or urgency, no warnings. No mentions of getting permission anywhere even in ambiguity. I told them after four hours therapeutic work, hardly the behaviour of a person committing an illegal offence. (a) After telling them, what do they think I was trying to get away with? (b) After getting medical advice, why would they refuse me permission anyway?

I am not talking about you and your story.

I am talking about the OP, please read some of the other helpful posts on this thread.