Accused of Fraud.

Worried+Angry

I am wondering if anyone can give me any advice. A few months ago I recieved a letter saying I was suspected of benefit fraud and asked to attend an interview. I attended the interview and was told that they believed my childrens' father was living with me. He doesn't but he spends a lot of time at my house seeing his children. I can see why they might have thought he lived here as for the past year since he has been driving he comes over quite a bit so his car would be seen at my house. We were both interviewed and explained this.

That was at the beginning of the year and I hadnt heard anyhting until this morning when I recieved a letter saying my housing and council tax benefit had been stopped from 2006 as my partner had been living with me. I am very angry as my rent is due next week (they know this) and I have no way of coming up with this money. The kids' dad works but he has his own bills to pay.

It would be a great help if someone could give me any advice. It feels as if I am being persecuted for being a good parent and letting my children see their dad as much as possible.

relic

Does he stay overnight?

AnxiousMum

Does he have his own place? Was he able to provide evidence to them that he has his mail sent somewhere, show a rental agreement or something, is on the electoral roll elsewhere, and.....does he pay child support?

You mention that he has lots of bills to pay - if you are indeed separated, then one of those bills should be for child support. It is his legal and moral obligation to help provide for his children.

Maybe in future, you need to have him spend time with the children at his place rather than yours.

relic

I just don't get why they would come to that decision.

If he has bills and so-on, then he must have his own place to live, and all the paperwork from his bank, his payslips, council tax, H&L must prove that he has another permanent address?

dmg24

tartane wrote: »

My daughter has had this problem too. Her son's father is a lorry driver and lives almost 200 miles away in his own flat. He also stays with her a couple of nights a week, sometimes three or four if he has local deliveries. He does that to keep the cost down for him (B&B) and also to see his son. They don't sleep together, he uses the spare room.
He produced his rental agreement, bank statements etc, but it was still found that they were living together. She ended up with her benefits cut, a debt with the council going back 2 years, as well as having to repay £1,000's to the DWP for IS.
She is now in serious debt because of this. They accepted he has his own place, pays CT etc, but they said he uses that as a place to stay when he is up there.

I can see their point of view there - they have decided that his other home is in effect his second home for work purposes.

suelees1

If you're not living together always appeal a 'living together' decision and get as much evidence as possible so the (independent) Tribunal Service is able to make an informed decision based on the balance of probabilites.

I'd also advise people in that position to make a fresh claim for benefit(s). Appeal those as well if you have to.

Hammyman

tartane wrote: »

He also stays with her a couple of nights a week, sometimes three or four if he has local deliveries. He does that to keep the cost down for him (B&B) and also to see his son. They don't sleep together, he uses the spare room.

He doesn't do it to keep the costs down. I hardly know of any lorry driver who uses B&B anymore as most wagons are sleeper cabs with a bed in. The driver also gets paid night out money by his employer so its not like he's out of pocket.

suelees1

People come on here to ask for benefit advice not to be preached to. You should learn to keep your opinions to yourself.

melancholly

suelees1 wrote: »

People come on here to ask for benefit advice not to be preached to. You should learn to keep your opinions to yourself.

i'm confused... whose opinions were offensive? seems like a pretty good natured discussion to me......

shegirl

tartane wrote: »

I would agree, but his doesn't. It isn't an artic, just a an ordinary 4 wheel box lorry. Besides which, given the choice of sleeping in the cab or a shower and a comfortable bed, there is no argument.

Yes he gets night out money which he saves on, which he gives to my daughter for his keep.

Therein lies hald the problem with your daughters case...he's technically giving her 'housekeeping' money -paying towards bills/food.That would lead to them wondering and stopping benefits!

shegirl

tartane wrote: »

I know. But that has never been the case. It was paid to him by his boss to cover overnight expenditure which he chooses to pay his ex in exchange for being given a meal, a shower and a bed.

I have no idea how she can reclaim any benefits as this set up still continues but I am hoping she will take my advice and kick him out and not allow him to stay over ever again.

Which means he's paying her housekeeping!!!! He wasn't exactly paying her for 'service' was he,especially when she was on benefits!You don't pay someone on benefits to give you a bed for the night,a shower in the morning and a meal!!!