Benefit Fraud interview with caution..help!

poet123

Sixer wrote: »

When did I do that? That's why I posted what the rules were and how they were broken and strongly advised the OP to take an adviser with her to the interview - WITHOUT accusing her of lying or being dishonest, implying that she was lying or being dishonest, or indulging in endless judgements about the morality or immorality of the situation.

Casting aspersions on the veracity of a poster IS against the rules of the forum.

Giving bad advice IS NOT against the rules of the forum - in fact, the place has disclaimers all over the place about that.

Two completely different issues - I was talking about the former, but your reply applies to the latter.

And in actual fact, I've given GOOD advice representing the position to the OP exactly as it is, and I've done it without breaking the forum rules.

In my view, it's a shame more people hereabouts can't manage the both.

In her place I would rather get good advice and a reality check rather than be "humoured", or offered woolly platitudes.

This board is what it is, people post, they get opinion, sometimes quite honest, and occasionally unpalatable, opinion. You may infer that to be against the rules of the forum, I don't, I suspect it is all about intepretation.

I dont believe that the way ONW presented her comments were against either the rule or the spirit of the site.

dogfish12

Cassie: well informed contribution but my suspicious mind always thinks that most of these types of cases are set off by poisonous telephone callers. I bet the percentage is high.

cassieB57

dogfish12 wrote: »

Cassie: well informed contribution but my suspicious mind always thinks that most of these types of cases are set off by poisonous telephone callers. I bet the percentage is high.

here's another scenario: OP mentions to employer/colleague at work/someone down the pub that she gets JSA, employer(or caw/sdtp) wonders how she could be getting earnings AND JSA and phoned JCP to ask if it is right.

Being 'someone on the ball at the jobcentre' myself, though, I'm inclined to go with my first scenario!

dogfish12

Cassie: Great answer as always. Still seems to me though that the first part of your answer is poisonous telephone caller.

Zoetoes

dmg24 wrote: »

The interview is recorded to protect both sides. She will automatically be given a copy. If you have nothing to hide, you have no need for representation. The compliance officers have no interest in 'fitting up' innocent people.

No but they will put the pressure on, try to confuse OP and twist her words, and suggest she is lying.

They haven't called her in to check a few details, they have called her in for a recorded interview under caution, they will treat her as guilty. It is not their job to be nice.

OP take a solicitor with you.

milfield

Any declaration of work to the Job Centre will result in the jobseeker completing at least 2 forms - an A15C (one off) and a B7 on a fornightly basis. A B16 if self-employed. The B7 details any hours worked in a BENEFIT WEEK (not necessarily Monday to Sunday) and any pay received or due to be received. JSA is adjusted as detailed in the previous posts.

16 hours work or more in a BENEFIT WEEK closes a JSA claim.

An A15C and B7's will also be required where a PARTNER has worked as any income from them will affect JSA. 24 hours work from a partner will close a claim.

A fortnightly declaration on the signing coupon is that no work, paid or unpaid has been undertaken.

Voluntary work must also be declared. Working for a charitable organization is fine and there are no restriction on hours - you must still look for and apply for jobs. Voluntary work for a non-charitable organization is problematic and may affect benefit, even if not getting paid, as is volunteering for a business owned by a family member.

Jobseekers must declare ANY changes in circumstances to the Job Centre.

Rule of thumb - if in doubt ask before you do something.

FBaby

OP, good luck on Monday but I'm sure everything will be ok. I am dismayed by the accusatory tone of some messages here. I think there are some people who spend some much time on the forum that they forget that a large number of people don't and therefore don't have their knowledge of the system, especially those who have worked all their lives. I am an intelligent and well aware person, but there were things I knew nothing about before being 'educated' on this forum that made me realise that without that knowledge, I could have done things that were illegal without having a clue.

Don't beayt yourself up. You made a mistake of believing that all you needed to do was tell the job centre that you were working some hours and trusted the rest was up to them to process. You are now finding out that the onus is on you to follow all the rules properly and make sure you do what you are supposed to (ie. telling them every fortnight how many hours your worked that week) and that the consequences are on you. I think you will have no problem showing to them that you have made a genuine mistake with no intention to defraud. The worse that can happen in that case? You have to pay the money back, which as you seem to a genuinely honest person you will respect is fair to pay back.

cassieB57

Milfield-a small but relevant point; it is work of 16 hours a week ON AVERAGE

Amanda_Adams

no-oneknowsme wrote: »

Dont you think that maybe this was the time when you should have declared that you had been working/earning?

What "changes" did you think the staff at the JC were enquiring about?

Changes means changes in your circumstances!.....but then I think you already knew that;).

I told them I was working part time. There have been no changes in circumstances since I told them that.
I know who I told it to and on what date.

Thank you.

property.advert

Lots of crap on here about spewing forth information which is not specifically asked for. There is no requirement to tell them about the snow clearing you did X years ago for which you were rewarded in kind with a bottle of expensive whisky unless they specifically ask you about it.

If you have a marshmallow brain then perhaps you should not speak at all but if you are intelligent, then you can truthfully answer all questions they ask succinctly without incriminating yourself.