Specialist Compliance Team letter

sunnyone

sparkles82 wrote: »

so the lady i spoke to said so i will ring the council because i used to get this but when i moved it stopped so might be because i didnt ring again. I dont know why she was asking about maintenance i know when you claim income support you have to claim maintenance not sure if you do for working tax credit.

Not now, maintenace is ignored for benefits like IS and its up to the single parent to claim CSA or have a private arrangement with the absent parent, its their own buisness and not the DWP/HMCE it seems no matter how much is paid.

DX2

sparkles82 wrote: »

so the lady i spoke to said so i will ring the council because i used to get this but when i moved it stopped so might be because i didnt ring again. I dont know why she was asking about maintenance i know when you claim income support you have to claim maintenance not sure if you do for working tax credit.

You no longer have to apply for child support when you are on Income support/JSA/ESA etc. Also child support is disregarded so doesn't affect your benefits or tax credits.

sparkles82_2

DX2 wrote: »

You no longer have to apply for child support when you are on Income support/JSA/ESA etc. Also child support is disregarded so doesn't affect your benefits or tax credits.

Thanks thats good to know, i always thought it was classed as income!;)

Ilovepurple

I'm still slightly concerned how they do the checks to find out who lives at the addresses. As my house is private rented there is obviously mail coming here from the previous tenants. And my landlady, which the lady I spoke to said was the reason I got the letter. If this is a new scheme then I think they should do a better job with their info. My landlady probably has her name at several addresses, as she has many properties. Her actual residence is in France, surely a Experian check would show this?

There also seems to be many inconsistencies with their questioning. I was not asked anything about maintenance and would have asked them why they needed to know that. It is not considered as part of my claim. And I certainly wasn't asked about new partners or if my ex had any. My baby is barely one so I doubt I would be moving a man in any time soon. The tax credits should at least standardise all the intrusive questions so that we know what to expect when we call.

Former_MSE_Andrea

Hi everyone

By all means ask and answer people's questions, including checking whether people are sure they should be getting certain benefits, that's fine!

It's how the questions are asked that we have a problem with, very often they can be asked in a much better way without causing upset and making people feel they need to report them. You'll see we've removed some posts in the thread that are asking but not others. That's because some were simply written in a way that didn't judge, simply questioned.

Andrea

Dolly-Rocket

Hello
Glad I found the thread as I've also had the letter. I called them today and gave the lady all my info. Still no change, but probably best that the ex doesn't have his bank statements sent here. She said she would update info and make a note that I called.
So what next?
Do I now start the process of bank statements, bills etc so they are ready if/when they ask for them? Or is this case closed? Not really sure if I should be doing anything now.
Only just got letter, what have others found the next step to be once you've made the phone call.
Never been investigated before! Should I make sure my make-up is perfect at all times just incase theres a spy outside my house taking pictures? ; )
Many thanks.

Mumlg22

I received one of these letters 22.01.2011 so I called them today. When I called I spoke with a man who clearly did not have any phone manners and spoke to be as if I was something he removed from his shoe. Im a single mum of a 3year old and have been for 2.5 years, I work 32hours and have a senior job and get paid a fair amount of money...However The man asked why I was not claiming housing benifit for my rented property and I stated that I felt that I didnt need to as I can cope with all my payments, I also part own a house with my ex but it is in negative equitiy so we can not sell. The man did not believe I was NOT receiving maintace from my ex - Which Iam not and never have!! He was very rude to me and made me feel that I was frueding the tax system as I worked hard and was not claiming for housing benifit!!!!!! At the end of the very upsetting phone call he said that he was lauching a full investigation against me and that I best get my car insurance, employment, tenet agreement and bills paperwork to hand as I will be needing them.

Please can someone help and tell me what is going to happen, will they freeze my CCTC and WTC?? I know that I have nothing to worry about as I have done nothing wrong - Im also upset with myself for not taking the mans name as he should not be allowered to talk to women in this manner and bring them to tears.

bamblolo

Hi I have also recieved a letter today and although i don,t think i have done anything wrong its really worrying me. I am a single mum(have been single for last 6 years) and live with my two young children. I work full time, my ex does see the children but he does not come in the house and i don,t speak to him,(only if there is an issue over the children).He does pay minimum maintenance but i thought that was disregarded as its for the children. I do not have anyone elses mail coming to my house. The only male that visits is the postman and he doesnt come in either! I will not be able to ring them as I am in work 7.30 till 5.00 and don,t really want to ring them from work if they are goiing to ask me very personal questions in case i get upset. I am really worrying over this now.

Tehya

Mumlg22 wrote: »

I received one of these letters 22.01.2011 so I called them today. When I called I spoke with a man who clearly did not have any phone manners and spoke to be as if I was something he removed from his shoe. Im a single mum of a 3year old and have been for 2.5 years, I work 32hours and have a senior job and get paid a fair amount of money...However The man asked why I was not claiming housing benifit for my rented property and I stated that I felt that I didnt need to as I can cope with all my payments, I also part own a house with my ex but it is in negative equitiy so we can not sell. The man did not believe I was NOT receiving maintace from my ex - Which Iam not and never have!! He was very rude to me and made me feel that I was frueding the tax system as I worked hard and was not claiming for housing benifit!!!!!! At the end of the very upsetting phone call he said that he was lauching a full investigation against me and that I best get my car insurance, employment, tenet agreement and bills paperwork to hand as I will be needing them.

Please can someone help and tell me what is going to happen, will they freeze my CCTC and WTC?? I know that I have nothing to worry about as I have done nothing wrong - Im also upset with myself for not taking the mans name as he should not be allowered to talk to women in this manner and bring them to tears.

Ring them back and ask to speak to someone else preferably a supervisor or manager. I would put in a complaint, phone calls are recorded so you should be able request a transcript. Good luck, it must have been a horrid experience for you.

Maria88

I feel a bit better after finding this forum thats for sure! I thought i was being accused of something illegal, i tell you it's made me have a crappy day!
As with the rest of you, i don't like the way this letter is worded, basically it sounds like their accusing you of being a big fraud! I know that some people might claim as single people when their a couple but i inform them of every change ASAP, i've never once had a problem with these people but now it seems i do!
So do i call them and tell them that they need to go and pick on someone else or do i leave it? What are the checks they carry out? I'm more than happy for them to see my bank statements etc... i have nothing to hide, apart from the fact that i'm skint! Lol :rotfl:But i'd feel a bit wierd if they were like spying on you or something!! Has anyone ever had anything else after this letter? I'm confused and a tad upset if i'm honest! I can't wait to give them a call on Monday and give them a piece of my mind!