JSA - Home visit by Compliance Officer? RESULT

Cambridge32

Hello,

I'm new to this forum but really need some advice please.

About four weeks ago my fixed-term job ended and so (as advised by my mum) I immediately applied for housing and council tax benefits and Job Seekers Allowance. Housing and Council tax benefits are currently being paid, but JSA is not.

When I had my initial interview for JSA I informed the interviewer that I was co-tenant in a rented 2-bedroom house that I share with a female friend. He then immediately informed me that an alert had been flagged on the system for possible fraud!

Since then I have received a letter asking me about my housemate.
The letter asked:
"What is the relationship between you and this person?
What date did you start sharing accommodation?
For what reason did you start sharing accommodation?
How long do you expect this to continue?
Why do you think this?"


I filled in the form saying that we are co-tenants and that we share the house and split the bills etc., and that we moved in because our respective tenancies in separate shared houses were coming to an end at the same time. Not sure if it is relevant, but we dated for a few months about six months before moving in together, and we are still very close friends, although I didn't write this on the form.

Having signed on last Friday I was told that there had still been no decision regarding my claim. However, I received a telephone call this morning informing me that I will be receiving a home visit!

What exactly does this mean? Does the fact that we dated mean that I am going to have my claim refused, or worse, that I will be in some sort of trouble?

The income aspect is not critical as I have been offered another job starting on 1/11/2010 but I am very worried about getting into trouble. Does anybody have any advice please?

kitschkitty

The important factor is if you are a couple now and during the period you are claiming for. It is sad that if it were a male friend they probably wouldn't even be asking the questions, but sadly as so many people commit fraud, they do have to investigate any cases they feel suspicious about.

Your past dating history isn't relevant if it was before you made a claim and isn't current so don't worry.

cassieB57

They merely need to be satisfied that you are both separate single people and not living together as a couple (and,kitschkitty, this CAN apply to same sex couples, who could be in a civil partnership! As could the fact that a prior relationship may exist)

Lots of factors are taken into account, I've given a link to the guidance here as it is not at all straightforward.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/dmgch11.pdf

dmg24

cassieB57 wrote: »

They merely need to be satisfied that you are both separate single people and not living together as a couple (and,kitschkitty, this CAN apply to same sex couples, who could be in a civil partnership! As could the fact that a prior relationship may exist)

Lots of factors are taken into account, I've given a link to the guidance here as it is not at all straightforward.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/dmgch11.pdf

I agree that it certainly can, but the JCP/ LA are still much more likely to question the relationship between a man and a woman who are living together than two people of the same sex.

cassieB57

how do you DO that??? (embolden part of the quote?)

morganedge

You can get housing benefit without getting JSA??

dmg24

cassieB57 wrote: »

how do you DO that??? (embolden part of the quote?)

Just select the text and click the bold button!

morganedge wrote: »

You can get housing benefit without getting JSA??

Yes, you can claim based on a low income.

Cambridge32

In fairness our previous tenancies ended one month apart, and I rented the house on my own for one month before she moved in. Admittedly I can see how this might look suspicious to a third party!

I was desperate to move out of my previous accommodation and simply couldn't afford a decent place on my own. Oh well, the meeting is scheduled for next week so I'll let you all know how it went.

RAS

Do you haVE ANY JOINT Accounts? Did you have any in the 6 months before you moved in together?

Cambridge32

No, never had joint accounts - I wouldn't trust anybody with my money. My housemate pays money into a specific bills account that I set up.

Having read the DWP guidance pdf posted above I now realise that this is really quite complicated.

Cambridge32

OK, the Compliance (fraud) lady came to my house and asked me some questions while she filled out a long form. She was very polite and professional.

In terms of paperwork, she only wanted to see bank statements for my bills account, which shows regular monthly payments from myself and my co-tenant, and the house rental agreement. This was not at all what I was expecting, as the CAB suggested that the DWP would come and have a look around the house and at all of my financial documents, so I had all of my wage slips, P60, bank statements, share statements etc. out ready for viewing!

She mentioned (very non-comittally) that the bills account statement was good evidence, but didn't seem too interested (or concerned) about anything else (including statements for my other bank accounts or even ID for that matter), although she did ask me about my savings (I have more than 6k but much less than 16k). She mentioned that she would refer the information to a decision maker (presumably somebody higher up who makes a decision?) and said that I would hear within a week but it has been almost two weeks and so far I have heard nothing.

I have actually now ended my claim after a total of ~6 weeks because my previous employer has unexpectedly asked me to come back for half a year's work at a reduced salary (this is good as it means I can put off relocating for another 6 months). The Local Authority suspended my Housing Benefit claim over a week ago as they have heard nothing from the DWP either so it is just as well that I do have some savings otherwise I would eventually be on the phone to my mum for a handout.

My new employer has already asked me for my P45 but presumably I have to wait for the DWP to send me a new one? And also the DWP presumably need the decision maker to make a decision first before they can issue me with a P45??