received a letter from a compliance officer?!

G51shopaholic

Hi - I receive ESA Support Group Rate - contributions based.

I have breast cancer; only found when it hit my lungs. I also have lymphadema which mean my right arm is about twice the size it should be. this has resulted in me being in and out of hospital. The last time I was admitted for 10 days.

I have NEVER contacted the benefit agency to tell them this. I have never felt I had to.

Do you claim as a single person? You may find they've received a report that you have a "partner". Just go along, listen to what they have to say and go from there.

If your not hiding anything then you have nothing to worry about.

My sister got a similar letter and it turned out someone had reported her for having her boyfriend staying - she told the truth and the matter was resolved.

Stay calm - take your mum with you if you want.

DVardysShadow

bobajob_1966 wrote: »

The DWP follows strict procedure with regard to IUCs, they do not spring them on people. You are being very cruel trying to worry the OP, when it is quite clear that you do not know what you are talking about.

I don't think vax is trying to worry anyone unnecessarily. I think it is healthy to have a distrust of officialdom. And while the warning may come to nothing, it would be quite cruel to think that such a thing might happen but not pass on the thought and then discover that the OP had been placed under caution.

buttons11

G51shopaholic wrote: »

Hi - I receive ESA Support Group Rate - contributions based.

I have breast cancer; only found when it hit my lungs. I also have lymphadema which mean my right arm is about twice the size it should be. this has resulted in me being in and out of hospital. The last time I was admitted for 10 days.

I have NEVER contacted the benefit agency to tell them this. I have never felt I had to.

Do you claim as a single person? You may find they've received a report that you have a "partner". Just go along, listen to what they have to say and go from there.

If your not hiding anything then you have nothing to worry about.

My sister got a similar letter and it turned out someone had reported her for having her boyfriend staying - she told the truth and the matter was resolved.

Stay calm - take your mum with you if you want.

Yeah my mum has said it could be that someone has reported me as i have loads of family members coming and going since i got out of hospital, due to having being diagnose with post traumatic stress disorder. i have had the worse two months of my life, i have had family members and friends coming in to my home loads as the tablets i am on for post traumatic stress also block out the symptoms for 'hypoglycemia' and being type1 diabetic this is very distressing, and now having this interview on monday is worrying me and y panic attacks are coming back. i just hope i haven't done anything wrong (im not aware of anything) x

wild666

buttons11 wrote: »

On friday morning i received a letter from a jobcentre/dwp compliance officer.

stating:



its starts off by saying....Invitation to an office interview. We need to see you in order to discuss the benefit we are currently paying you, as a query has arisen on your claim. We need to ensure your payments are correct and it is essential you attend.
You should note that where there is doubt about whether the conditions for entitlement are met, we can suspend your payments.
Then it goes on to tell me when it is and the ID i need to take along.
I have been claiming Employment and support allowance for 2years due to having and illness called Chronic fatigue syndrom.
I called the man who sent the letter to confirm the appointment and asked him what it was about and he said that i wasnt able to be told over the phone and was to just attend.
Does anyone no what this is about. I have just got out of critical care 2weeks ago and i am a nervous wreck
thankyou xx

You state it says INVITATION TO AN OFFICE INTERVIEW as I understand the word invitation you are free to decline without penalty, if you still suffer with CFS then make them come out and visit you, use the disability discrimination act to your advantage, tell then to force you to visit them is an assault on you, they don't have to physically hit you to cause an assault they can mentally assault as in telling you they will stop your benefits.
Be prepared for them accusing you of living with someone to having more than you should in the bank, even doing things that nosey neighbours don't think you should be doing, treat it like an ATOS interrogation.

meritaten

buttons - just try to stay calm. it may be something you can clear up easily - if you have any documents etc which prove when you were in hospital or dates you had appointments etc take them with you.
but, I do have to echo what the other poster said - If they say that anything you say could be used in court or against you...........then you say 'I am saying nothing further until I get legal advice'. Then leave! because, if they do this or record your interview, then you are entitled to legal representation. Saying this WONT go against you - its your legal right.

vax2002

The term officer is to frighten people, to give some false assertion they have some official authority, they do not, it just means they represent the office they work for.
I would first try to engage them in writing due to you sustained ill health, I can not see a reasonable excuse why they can not table the questions and you put the answers in writing, other than they are hoping to catch you out.
Alternatively accept the invitation but change the venue to your house at a time of your choosing and have a relative present.
These agencies do engage in both covert and overt recording in interview rooms, the evidence may not be admissible in some cases but it is useful to the investigation as it transcribes what you have said.
You are right to be worried, they are not summonsing you to see the officer to offer you a cigar, they are investigating you and a distrust of Authority is never a bad thing in circumstances of dealing with people who are judged on results.

Some may criticise my advice not wanting to worry you, but I would rather be honest and see you prepared for what they can pull out of the bag and know how to deal with it.

ferien_uk2011

vax2002 wrote: »

The term officer is to frighten people, to give some false assertion they have some official authority, they do not, it just means they represent the office they work for.
.

Officer is a term that is very commonly used in job titles these days, I would hardly say it is there to frighten customers.

Evilm

A friend of mine got one of these and it turns out someone had claimed to DWP that he was running a business whilst on ESA. They resolved this by talking to him and closed the query (I believe with bank statements to prove he doesn't have any other income going in).

steamwin

ferien_uk2011 wrote: »

Officer is a term that is very commonly used in job titles these days, I would hardly say it is there to frighten customers.

Just could'nt ignore this,its "Enforcement Officer" or "Compliance Officer" and yes it is to scare you,also the term "customer" implies you have choice,you don't.

ferien_uk2011

steamwin wrote: »

Just could'nt ignore this,its "Enforcement Officer" or "Compliance Officer" and yes it is to scare you,also the term "customer" implies you have choice,you don't.

And what evidence do you have to suggest that they have purposely chosen this phrase to frighten people?

Almost every job title I have on my CV has the word 'officer' in...maybe I'd better change it in case employers are intimidated by me.