Would you report someone you knew for benefit fraud?

Pollycat

The_mangler wrote: »

We were notified of benefit being stopped in July last year - we were interviewed end of August. We were notified of no charges in February this year.

I would love to kick things up, in particular the investigating officer's attitude towards us both but as you say, my husband's health is fragile to say the least, Im not doing too well myself and until I am stronger I cannot face any more fighting. Maybe in time I will, I have kept records of everything and am still in touch with my solicitor but Im needed more at home right now and I think more upset would damage us both further.

The only reason I have brought this up is just to show that they can and do make mistakes and you are treated as guilty until proved innocent. I would appeal to everyone reporting others to be 100% sure of your facts because it has pushed my family to suicide attempts.

I wouldn't report anyone unless I was sure they were cheating the system.

I hope things improve for you and that maybe in time you will get to the stage where you feel it would be productive for your family to take things further about the terrible way you were treated.

wearside_2

The_mangler wrote: »

I am afraid you are wrong. Our benefits were suspended on the orders from the Investigating Officer. All the time they were stopped he was investigating us still, then he concluded his investigation and passed it on to the decision maker - our benefits were still suspended at that point!

Too many people are pushed to the edge with these investigations so bad actions go unreported. I fully intend to let everyone know just what happened to us but as I said, our health has suffered greatly and Im not well enough right now

Fraud Investigators do not have the power of a Decision Maker, they would pass the evidence over for an independant decision.

The_mangler

wearside wrote: »

Fraud Investigators do not have the power of a Decision Maker, they would pass the evidence over for an independant decision.

That is once the investigation is complete; as has been discussed previously on this thread, benefits are suspended as soon as the Investigating Officer believes they have enough evidence that fraud has been committed, even if they then carry on investigating.
I wont argue with you because I know what happened to us. In error, my husband's Incapacity Benefit was also stopped, when I phoned the DWP they insisted I called the Investigating Officer because it was down to him whether it could be paid or not at that time.

wearside_2

The_mangler wrote: »

That is once the investigation is complete; as has been discussed previously on this thread, benefits are suspended as soon as the Investigating Officer believes they have enough evidence that fraud has been committed, even if they then carry on investigating.
I wont argue with you because I know what happened to us. In error, my husband's Incapacity Benefit was also stopped, when I phoned the DWP they insisted I called the Investigating Officer because it was down to him whether it could be paid or not at that time.

The Investigator is the only one legally permitted to discuss the facts with you, as he/she would have suspended the interview under caution and would make a note of what he/she says and you say, for further use. The Decision Maker at that time cannot discuss the facts with you.

The_mangler

wearside wrote: »

The Investigator is the only one legally permitted to discuss the facts with you, as he/she would have suspended the interview under caution and would make a note of what he/she says and you say, for further use. The Decision Maker at that time cannot discuss the facts with you.

we had not even had our interview when the decision to suspend our benefits was taken. And the investigator will not discuss any facts of the investigation at all unless it is part of the interview under caution.

Maybe I just got a bad investigator but thats how our case was handled.

wearside_2

I suppose there are good and bad ones!

wearside_2

Why not have the Interview Under Caution to get the facts etc out in the open?

The_mangler

wearside wrote: »

Why not have the Interview Under Caution to get the facts etc out in the open?

We have had one, not sure what you mean????

wearside_2

If you want to discuss the case further it has to be with the investigator and under caution.

AsknAnswer2

The_mangler wrote: »

How do you know that something came out of it, the DWP will not pass on the outcome to anybody???

DWP didn't need to tell me the outcomes. On one, I was cited as a witness for the prosecution and the other two plead guilty at the initial court hearings which were both reported in the local press.