Compliance Visit

GlasweJen

I don't have anything to fear because I've been 100% honest with the DWP!

My sister gets me up in the morning, she helps me get showered, the taxi comes, i go to work. At work I have colleagues around me all the time, lunch is bought at the staff canteen, back to shop floor sorrounded by colleagues until the taxi comes to pick me up, takes me home. Mum or sister have made me dinner (or I buy it in), If I have a class I get a taxi there or my sister gets the bus with me, I come home, someone makes my tea, I go to bed.

I do nothing during the day which I've said I can't do on my DLA form. I am not one of those claimants who have written their worst day on the form so I know it's all just procedural.

GlasweJen

Hi Sh, no but I can get the pharmacist to print me one out at work.

Benefits_Bod

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

wrong a compliance visit is to clarify what you say in your forms for benefits DLA/esa etc

Not always. Sometimes, the DWP (as do LAs) undertake reviews of awards as part of the daily work. In Glaswejen's case, the "risk" level would probably be relatively low, so this type of review would be undertaken sparingly. But, I agree there is no legal right to insist on entry (as stated in my earlier post).

GlasweJen

The letter specifically says that there is a query on my benefits claim - I think it's malicious tbh.

What is really angering me is that I spent my lunch hour on hold to the JCP, finally got through to someone who said that they can't cancel my visit it has to be the visiting officer and he'd call me back. I gave them my works number and 3 hours later no call so I called them to make sure I hadn't missed it. Was told that no, the guy was working on another case and would call me before I finished at 5.

5 came and went so I called again from my mobile to be told that actually the guy wasn't in today and he'd call me tomorrow - erm this visit is meant to be Thursday? It just isn't possible for me to arrange a carer at no notice for Thursday even if I do manage to get a day off work (again with no notice) so I said that I didn't want to be visited by a man when I'm home alone. I got a very snooty "well he can come with a woman i suppose". Erm, who is this woman, what is her position and why couldn't they have just sent her in the first place?

I've told them I want a call at work before 11 tomorrow so that I can attempt to get some arrangements in place but I have a feeling i'll hear nothing back, i'll go to work on Thursday and I'll come home to a letter through my door and my benefits frozen. oh well.

GlasweJen

and atrixblue, how on earth will it raise eyebrows if I reschedule when they pay for the taxis to my work and they know I work monday to friday 8 til 5?

RAS

Why not whack a letter in the post tonight saying what you put above, so you have evidence that you tried to re-arrange the meeting?

Bryando

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

wrong a compliance visit is to clarify what you say in your forms for benefits DLA/esa etc, once they get a phone call through fraud hotline outlining certain descrepancies within your claim they most certainly will send out a compliance officer, they dont usually send one out unless they have a certain amount of evidence to go on.
you may have been watched by the DWP first hand due to a report through the hotline. dont take all in your stride thinking you have nothing to fear, get yourself a friend in on the interview with a pen and paper, if your rechedule you will raise eyebrows within DWP. they have no right to look around your property and you can refuse entry conducting the interview on your doorstep, refusing entry will spark a deeper investigation into yourself by the DPW.

NEVER been here with EVIDENCE. Speculation rather. Refusing entry is a right you have. I would NOT even allow the intimidation aspect of a deeper investigation hamper me if I decided not to let somebody in my home. If I open the door and I don't care who you are/work for if I am not 100% comfy you are not getting in. done it the second visit from Compliance officer and had no problems. Phoned and told them.

Bryando

[QUOT But, I agree there is no legal right to insist on entry (as stated in my earlier post).[/QUOTE]


The only people in Scotland that can enter your home in Scotland with no warrant are Police and Fire service. Ambulance staff have no RIGHT to enter, however if they did as you were bleeding to death etc then common sense with prevail.

In Scotland the caution is ''you do not need to say ANYTHING but anything you do say will be noted and used in evidence'' Unlike England where silence can hamper your defence. Crazy way in England, all due to Police corruption and hence PACE.

Bryando

GlasweJen wrote: »

The letter specifically says that there is a query on my benefits claim - I think it's malicious tbh.

What is really angering me is that I spent my lunch hour on hold to the JCP, finally got through to someone who said that they can't cancel my visit it has to be the visiting officer and he'd call me back. I gave them my works number and 3 hours later no call so I called them to make sure I hadn't missed it. Was told that no, the guy was working on another case and would call me before I finished at 5.

5 came and went so I called again from my mobile to be told that actually the guy wasn't in today and he'd call me tomorrow - erm this visit is meant to be Thursday? It just isn't possible for me to arrange a carer at no notice for Thursday even if I do manage to get a day off work (again with no notice) so I said that I didn't want to be visited by a man when I'm home alone. I got a very snooty "well he can come with a woman i suppose". Erm, who is this woman, what is her position and why couldn't they have just sent her in the first place?

I've told them I want a call at work before 11 tomorrow so that I can attempt to get some arrangements in place but I have a feeling i'll hear nothing back, i'll go to work on Thursday and I'll come home to a letter through my door and my benefits frozen. oh well.

Can you not fax them ? I would make a complaint and if they do stop your benefit then I would be making sure I contact my MP/MSP in relation to the fact you were trying to re arrange and the poor communication you suffered.

I was told I could not re arrange, nearly laughed when I was told that! However got my MPs ofice to phone and it was soon changed. It is a 'appointment' if you can't make it then they should make one that you can.

GlasweJen

well 11 o'clock today came and went with no communication so I called the office and the line was engaged, called 6 times in total with the phone being engaged, finally got through to someone who put me on hold for 30 mins and then the line got hung up. Called back and the phone was ignored.

At 5 I went to the local job centre (handy situated across from my work) which was closing, the security person refused to allow me to speak to someone or even go and ask someone what I should do.

My sister is house sitting tomorrow to watch out for the electrician coming so I am going to give her a letter to give anyone who comes (if they come, the woman on Tuesday didn't say if she had cancelled the appointment or not) explaining that I am at work and they can contact me to arrange an appointment which is mutually convenient.

I am so angry I am in a mind to write a complaint about this, how dare they send a letter to a disabled person basically saying that their benefits are all wrong and they were coming to check them and not even have the decency to call said person to explain what's going on and arrange a time that the person will actually be at home?

Oh and no, I couldn't fax as there wasn't a fax number on the letter, I can't access the real internet from work just an intranet.