Visiting Officer - Whats that about?

Julie33

Hi,

Im a carer and when I got home yesterday there was a card saying 'a visiting officer called with reference to your benefit claim' - its from the council and they've given me a contact number.

i started claiming carers allowance a couple years ago and nothing has changed since then, is this a normal routine kind of thing for them to do - call round unannounced like that? thought they would just write to me if they wanted to see bank statements or stuff. so im just a bit concerned. anyone help me out with advice on this?

DB18

This can be standard local authority practice. They are not checking if you are a carer but checking you live there, no one else lives there who has not been declared. Establishing that you do qualify for Conucil Tax and Housing Benefit. The LA share info with DWP and often take the lead in identifying alleged fraud.

Julie33

ah I see...just thought they would have written rather than call round out of the blue and waste their time. but I suppose if someone had answered the door that wasn't me then they wouldn't have done.

thanks for the clarification, was a little worried I'd done something wrong when I read that rather curt note last night!