Incapacity Benefit -- visit from Compliance Officer - why? what?

cit_k

hayley11 wrote: »

You might not need permission to do permitted work but you do need to check with your personal advisor that it's within the rules.

Taken from direct.gov website:

"Although you do not need permission to do Permitted Work, you must check that the work you want to do is allowed under the Permitted Work rules. You should discuss this with your personal adviser."

It sounds like you are really unclear about the rules regarding IB. Might be an idea to make an appointment at the job centre to speak to your personal advisor and have them explained to you again so you don't end up in trouble.

!!!!!!?

Seriously !!!!!!?

Personal advisor when you are on IB?

Never heard such rubbish.

Never had a personal advisor on IB, never been offered one.

Whenever I have went to the jobcentre to ask to speak to someone, they HAVE ALWAYS turned me away and told me to ring one of the phone lines.

Seriously, its all propaganda, personal advisors for people on IB, what a laugh.

cit_k

re o/p - many benefits ask you who is living in the house with you when you claim, any that did will need informing about lodgers.

And change of circumstances like this, or working, should always be declared to the DWP.

WhiteHorse

TOBRUK wrote: »

What I still don't understand is why they sent out a fraud officer to see me when any overpayment they may have made was down to them?! They only had to check through my details with the other part of their own department to get all the 'up to date' details!

There are different departments, different computers and databases, none of whom communicate with each other.

One of the morals of this story is the importance of keeping all your paperwork. If you can't show them that they're wrong using their own documents, they are quite likely to accuse you of all sorts of things, no matter how ridiculous.

WhiteHorse

periwinkle wrote: »

"I'm from what used to be called social security and you've been picked for a random check. Have you got half an hour to answer some questions?"

Very irregular. Any ID offered?

I was so stunned, I just stood there gawping at him until he asked if he could come in (I could hardly say no).

Oh yes you can.

He then proceeded to ask me a series of questions, and when I wasn't sure of the answer - like, "how long have you been claiming IB?" he told me exactly how long I've been claiming. He tested me as if he was judge and jury and then left to type up his report.

Hardly the correct way to conduct an interview, the contents of which could then be used against you.

krisskross

A couple of my elderly acquaintances have had this sort of benefit check up.

Funnily enough their attitude was 'Isn't it kind of them to come round to make sure I am getting everything I should'. One of them really thinks her ship has come in because she didn't know she was entitled to pension credit.

hayley11

cit_k wrote: »

!!!!!!?

Seriously !!!!!!?

Personal advisor when you are on IB?

Never heard such rubbish.

Never had a personal advisor on IB, never been offered one.

Whenever I have went to the jobcentre to ask to speak to someone, they HAVE ALWAYS turned me away and told me to ring one of the phone lines.

Seriously, its all propaganda, personal advisors for people on IB, what a laugh.

I don't think i've got one either. I know I had an appointment with somebody last year, work focused interview I think but I don't know if that's the same thing.

periwinkle_2

WhiteHorse

I was just too stunned to think of asking for id. And the reason I let him in was because I figured it could go against me if I didn't.

I'm really concerned about the way this check was conducted and what happens to the information - since the bloke who paid me a visit sends in a report, then obviously he is going to make value judgements about me.

WhiteHorse

periwinkle wrote: »

I was just too stunned to think of asking for id. And the reason I let him in was because I figured it could go against me if I didn't.

It's unfortunate but understandable.

I'm really concerned about the way this check was conducted and what happens to the information - since the bloke who paid me a visit sends in a report, then obviously he is going to make value judgements about me.

You are right to be concerned. This is not an appropriate way to conduct an interview.

Many years ago, two DHSS investigators blagged their way into my elderly fathers home. They frightened him badly and got him to say all sorts of nonsensical things (he suffered from dementia), which were duly written down.

When we found what they had done, we contacted the department, pointing out that their staff had not only broken every guideline in the book, but had probably broken the law as well.

The matter was quickly dropped.

travelodger

OK tying up loose ends -- what happened was, guy comes round, nice as pie, says they received a phone call from a woman saying I was working and claiming. He asked me if I was, I told him exactly the truth of what I do, and he left. Haven't heard a thing since then!

RazWaz

I had one right after the ConDem got into power. They said I hadn't informed them of my change in circumstances therefor my claim was fraudulent. Well it turns out what I didn't tell them, was that my carer had moved in, one small problem, he never bloody moved in!

Eventually got it all sorted, and it turned out because I lived alone I should have been getting an extra £52 a week and got it all backpaid.