Suspected of Benefit Fraud

NotACleverName

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I wouldn't normally agree with him but that's a perfectly likely outcome. I don't think that you can falsely claim more than £10,000 over a period of two years and expect not to be prosecuted.

Depends how you interpret the opening post. I read it as the OP had £10,000 in the savings account for his/her child. You've read it like the OP has claimed £10,000 in benefits.

Perhaps OP could clarify?

airheadm

Hi, no I have not falsely claimed £10,000 over 2 years, I was left the money in a will when my uncle died, I put it straight away into a separate account and have not touched it.

NotACleverName

As I thought. Airhead, it's easy to say don't worry, but look at what people above have told you (in the majority). Yes, you may have been naive, but prison probably won't be on the cards. Repayment of any monies overpaid will be.

Take care

airheadm

Yes it was left to me in a will, so I am sure there should be paperwork somewhere, I put it straight into an account which I have not touched.

airheadm

Thanks, yes it was left to me by my uncle when he died, I put it in a separate account and have not touched it.

cte1111

If it was left to you, then it is your capital. You are expected to use some of that before relying on benefits. As others have said, try not to worry too much and tell the benefits people the truth at the interview.

airheadm

Thank you ALL so so much, I might manage to sleep tonight now, thank you. I have spent all day hugging and kissing my boy wondering if I was going to be separated from him and how he would handle it and where he would have to live if I went to prison.

Thank you so much.

Oldernotwiser

NotACleverName wrote: »

Depends how you interpret the opening post. I read it as the OP had £10,000 in the savings account for his/her child. You've read it like the OP has claimed £10,000 in benefits.

Perhaps OP could clarify?

£65 x 104 = £6,760 IS
£1,500 x 2 = £3,000 CTB

That doesn't include HB which we don't you was claimed.

£10,000 benefits was an approximate sum, nothing to do with the amount of her savings.

NotACleverName

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

£65 x 104 = £6,760 IS
£1,500 x 2 = £3,000 CTB

That doesn't include HB which we don't you (know)? was claimed.


OP has clarified 10k relates to inheritance. Yes, they should have declared it. But if that's the only savings they had, their IS would have only been reduced (as under 16k threshold for IS), and CTB would still have been payable.

Go back to the OP's first post on this thread. You really seem to have misunderstood the 10k. It's an inheritance which was put by for the son. Not what was claimed in benefits.

Oldernotwiser

NotACleverName wrote: »

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

£65 x 104 = £6,760 IS
£1,500 x 2 = £3,000 CTB

That doesn't include HB which we don't you (know)? was claimed.


OP has clarified 10k relates to inheritance. Yes, they should have declared it. But if that's the only savings they had, their IS would have only been reduced (as under 16k threshold for IS), and CTB would still have been payable.

Go back to the OP's first post on this thread. You really seem to have misunderstood the 10k. It's an inheritance which was put by for the son. Not what was claimed in benefits.

No, it's you that has misunderstood.

My calculation related to the amount of benefit that the OP has claimed, (104 weeks IS at £65 plus 2 years CTB at, say, £1,500 pa.) It's simply coincidence that this figure is similar to the amount of savings she has and could be double or treble that amount if she's been claiming HB as well.

If she had declared it at the start it would only partially have affected her benefits but as she has lied about her savings, her whole claim is likely to be considered fraudulent and the whole amount could be recoverable.