Benefit Fraud interview with caution..help!

melbi_uk

Amanda_Adams wrote: »

Thank you for your comments. Yes, I probably am naive. I came to this site looking for some impartial advice.
I am not an intentional criminal, otherwise I wouldn't have informed the jobcentre what I was doing, and allowed my employers to pay money directly into my account. If I were doing anything underhand, I would not have informed the jobcentre, and I would have taken the option of "cash in hand".
Most people have been very helpful from a legal and supportive side, and I thank them for that.

I came to this site looking for advice on how to conduct myself at the interview etc. If you can give me any advice with regard to the interview/legal representation that would be great.
With Thanks
A

Did you read that link I posted Amanda?

Good luck for Monday x

Sixer

Amanda_Adams wrote: »

Thank you for your comments. Yes, I probably am naive. I came to this site looking for some impartial advice.
I am not an intentional criminal, otherwise I wouldn't have informed the jobcentre what I was doing, and allowed my employers to pay money directly into my account. If I were doing anything underhand, I would not have informed the jobcentre, and I would have taken the option of "cash in hand".
Most people have been very helpful from a legal and supportive side, and I thank them for that.

I came to this site looking for advice on how to conduct myself at the interview etc. If you can give me any advice with regard to the interview/legal representation that would be great.
With Thanks
A

I can't help you with that, I'm afraid - I'd have no idea where to begin. But best of luck with it and please let us know how you get on.

Amanda_Adams

poet123 wrote: »

So, you didnt realise that meant you should declare fluctuations in (known) earnings/hours as a change?

No, because I told them clearly that I had a job doing holiday relief, and that my hours would be variable. I told them the date I started the job, and that my hours (if any) would be different each week.
There was never any change from that original statement that I gave to them.

poet123

Sixer wrote: »

It's against the rules of this forum to call an OP a liar - openly or by implication. We are asked to take what people say at face value and I see no reason to either believe or disbelieve in the OP's naivety. Hence my saying "This is what the OP stated. It shows a problematic ignorance of what the signing on declaration actually is, therefore an adviser at interview would probably be a good idea".

She made a post asking for advice. The point of the forum is to give advice based on the information given. Spending pages of threads debating the honesty of posters and the morality of their positions is a) against the rules, and b) makes the threads less helpful to both the original poster and people with similar issues following along at later dates.

There is an inherent problem with that though. Which is that if any poster gives detail of their actions which a reasonable person could interpret as showing they were not being entirely open with the authorities, to suggest that scenario may not be put to them or believed by the DWP, is unhelpful and lulls them into a false sense of security.

It may be a misunderstanding, it may not, but it is not unreasonable to let the OP see how their actions can be perceived and why.

tommix

Amanda_Adams wrote: »

No, because I told them clearly that I had a job doing holiday relief, and that my hours would be variable. I told them the date I started the job, and that my hours (if any) would be different each week.
There was never any change from that original statement that I gave to them.

Every time you 'sign on' you are stating that you have not worked, end of really, I reckon.

Good luck for monday.

poet123

Amanda_Adams wrote: »

No, because I told them clearly that I had a job doing holiday relief, and that my hours would be variable. I told them the date I started the job, and that my hours (if any) would be different each week.
There was never any change from that original statement that I gave to them.

So you were never asked to produce pay slips for the hours worked?

sueturnersmith

Amanda_Adams wrote: »

I am not an intentional criminal, otherwise I wouldn't have informed the jobcentre what I was doing, A

You have that in your favour, but it seems that the jobcentre may have misunderstood and thought you meant voluntary work, not paid work. As others have said, working more than 16 hours in a week would mean signing off, and even four hours a week would reduce the amount you would have received, so you have been overpaid. When you first sign on, you are given a booklet explaining all this!

I really do think you need to get some legal advice, because the outcome of the interview might not be that pleasant, and you will need as much legal support as you can get.

Good luck!

dogfish12

Amanda: watch out for the fishing stitch up. They might try and throw at you that they have info from an anonymous source that you have been taking cash in hand as well as what is on the wage slips. They will speak with honey on a forked tongue. A few commenters have written that you can not incriminate yourself if youre innocent. I don't believe that. People admit to things they have not done all the time, out of fear and not thinking straight and being brow beaten. If the people you are seeing appear nice, be careful, they have the guile of the witchfinder general. I wish you good luck.

Amanda_Adams

poet123 wrote: »

There is an inherent problem with that though. Which is that if any poster gives detail of their actions which a reasonable person could interpret as showing they were not being entirely open with the authorities, to suggest that scenario may not be put to them or believed by the DWP, is unhelpful and lulls them into a false sense of security.

It may be a misunderstanding, it may not, but it is not unreasonable to let the OP see how their actions can be perceived and why.

To be in this situation in the first place is horrendous, you have no idea how sick and ill I feel. I am thoroughly expecting to be believed by no-one, and certainly not the DWP.
I am a woman in my late 50's who has worked all her life until being made redundant last year. Believe me, I have no sense of false security. I come here purely asking for practical advice on how to deal with a situation I have apparently got myself into.
I already know how my actions will be perceived without it being confirmed over again, or being called "stupid" which is neither helpful or practical.

As I have said earlier, thank you to everyone for their help. Most people have been great.
A

Amanda_Adams

poet123 wrote: »

So you were never asked to produce pay slips for the hours worked?

No, I wasn't. I kept them all just in case I was asked for them.