Under investigation for fraud!!!

celticfc

Just an update on how things went.

I went for the interview under caution and was overpaid by £23.11. How much did this investigation cost? Surely a phone call would have been sufficent to get to the bottom of the problem!

I was asked if I had signed the declaration on the council tax benefit forms. Part of it is that if my circumstance change I am to inform them straight away. Well my circumstance did change and I failed to inform them. But here's why.

I applied back in Nov 05, the system crashed taking my details and I had to wait for the forms to fill in manually. I rang 5 times asking for these forms, they eventually arrived in Feb 06. I filled them in and sent them off. IS, IB, and CTB.

IB was awarded in april 06. I had a rise in that because I was claiming for dependants some 6 weeks after the initial award. CTB was awarded in June. In july I had another letter from CTB to say I had been awarded CTB at a higher rate. From £5 odd to £6 odd per week. I then had a letter telling me that CTB had been suspended pending an investigation for fraud.

When I recieved the notification for CTB I did'nt read any further, I was just glad that after all the waiting it had finally been sorted. It is because I failed to notify them of an increase in IB that I was interviewed under caution.

This is the first time I have been on benefits, and from the time I applied, Nov 2 05, I have had nothing but trouble. I thought that the benefits system were interlinked and spoke to one another. I now know that CTB is a seperate entity to IB and IS. It is because of my assumptions that I did'nt think to notify them, I assumed it would be done through the system.

I had a letter this morning telling me I have to go and recieve a caution because of my failure to notify them of a change in circumstance. I feel it is really bullying tactics. I have been disgusted at the way my claim has been handled from the beginning. Even now some 11 and a half months after my initial claim I have had no word from the IS dept. In spite of giving every scrap of information I have been asked for.

I would appreciate if anyone has some advice what to do in referance to my IS claim, I would be really grateful.

I am due for an operation shortly. It would have been last saturday but was cancelled. As soon as it's done and I am in a position to do so I'll wave bye bye to the whole benefits system. I can't believe how shoddy it is. I've worked all my life and never asked for anything. My first time of asking has left me really angry at the lack of help and support.

Fran

celticfc wrote:

I would appreciate if anyone has some advice what to do in referance to my IS claim, I would be really grateful.

Who have you dealt with already? Are you getting free advice, because I would suggest going back to whoever helped you before. Also put in a complaint through the DWP complaints procedure, skip the local office which has already not done it's job and go to the next ones up, they should tell you who to complain to - put it in writing. Are you still waiting for claims to be sorted out?

celticfc

Fran wrote:

Who have you dealt with already? Are you getting free advice, because I would suggest going back to whoever helped you before. Also put in a complaint through the DWP complaints procedure, skip the local office which has already not done it's job and go to the next ones up, they should tell you who to complain to - put it in writing. Are you still waiting for claims to be sorted out?

I have spoken to IS 3 times over the phone. The first time I was told it is because my former employer has not given them info they need to process my claim. Date of last earnings, date of leaving etc. I was then told that they would have to wait 45 mins in a queue to speak to the payroll dept of my former employer to speak to someone regards this so they have faxed them 3 times with no response.

I got the number from IS and rang the pay dept myself, waited 45 mins and spoke to a young lady who told me they had had no contact from IS. She then gave me the information needed for IS to contact them. I rang IS again and passed on the info I had recieved from the payroll office.

The 3rd time I rang I asked to speak to the manager, she wasn't available so I spoke to a lady who asked me for more information regarding my mortgage. I gave her the information again, I had already submitted this in my claim. That was the last time I had spoken to anyone there.

I have had 3 letters from them, the first 2 to tell me the claim was still being processed, the third asking for details about my bank account, again info I had already given them.

As things stand, I am recieving IB. Have to go and recieve a caution from CTB on friday, CTB has not been reinstated. Currently waiting for IS claim to be dealt with. All in all my experience with the benefits has been a shambles!

I also recieve CTC. IB and CTC are paying my mortgage and water rates. If things continue I am going to be up a creek without a paddle. I'm dreading xmas! My 3 kids are going to be wondering why santa has missed them.

If you have any info Fran on the complaints procedure and where to start I'd be grateful.

Fran

The DWP website has info on complaints procedures, if not enough info I would give them a ring.

seven-day-weekend

celticfc wrote:

I naively thought that any change in benefit would be automatically notified to the various depts within the benefits system, but apparrantly not.

.

I would have thought so too.......

....How do they know about it then????

Fran

seven-day-weekend wrote:

I would have thought so too.......

....How do they know about it then????

You have to notify all the different people yourself of any change in circumstances, that's not saying that they don't know/can't check as they can, but it is your responsibility.

celticfc

seven-day-weekend wrote:

I would have thought so too.......

....How do they know about it then????

Because the IB dept informed them. How ironic is that!

What would the implications be if I refused to accept a caution? I have already been interviewed and explained how I thought all depts would communicate.

Now surely bearing in mind the sum is £23.11 they would be more leniant. If I was knowingly making a fraudulent claim and taking them for thousands I could understand why they would feel the need to investigate and charge me.

BTW, Thanks Fran

Fran

celticfc wrote:

Because the IB dept informed them. How ironic is that!

What would the implications be if I refused to accept a caution? I have already been interviewed and explained how I thought all depts would communicate.

Now surely bearing in mind the sum is £23.11 they would be more leniant. If I was knowingly making a fraudulent claim and taking them for thousands I could understand why they would feel the need to investigate and charge me.

BTW, Thanks Fran

That's an interesting one especially because of the amount. I would take advice on it first, but certainly put in a complaint to your local council for making such an issue and wasting so much money on such a paltry amount.

barjam_2

dwp are a joke:rotfl: comunications betweens depts even funnier:D the left hand never knows what the right hand is doing in them places, how can people work in places like that. constantly distressing people on benefits and make them feel like second class citizens:mad:

(sorry had to have a rant)

celticfc

barjam wrote:

feel like second class citizens:mad:

That's exactly how I feel now. I feel the dignity I had has been stripped. I go to the job centre and get treated like I'm some thicko off the street who has'nt got a clue.

I have been called in twice for interviews and both times I felt as though they were just going through the motions and not overly bothered. Take a ticket and sit down until your number is called!!