Job centre compliance officer

flo-67

Last week when i signed on i was given a letter inviting me to an interview at the job centre but a compliance officer. I had nothing to hide but went along and was taken to a small interview room where he asked who i lived with, (my two daughters aged 10 and 15) and then he said it was a random check as i had reached 6 months in unemployment, he did go through my job search agreement and we looked for jobs online, but then then interview changed and then he treated me like i was in imbicile by explaining that the slip i sign fortnightly was a legal document and did i understand that!! i told him yes then he made me do a statement saying that i lived with my two children at my address and that i claimed housing, tax child benefit, tax credits and that i was not working but actively seeking. I felt that i was under suspicion (although i havent done anything wrong) and i did say to him am i under suspicion for anything and he replied no it was just a check, but on other meetings with officers regarding job search ive never been taken to a small office. now my fear is that im going through a messy divorce and my ex husband who i left due to his PTSD has already tried to cause trouble with the social services, and was found to be a lier, but im scared he has done it again and my nerves cant deal with it. Ive had 6 years of agro from him and just want to know WHY i was picked out and if i am under suspicioun andif so what for, but i feel they have left me in limbo and i cant eat or sleep (and no i have nothing to hide) What is a compliance officer as i keep hearing they are to do with fraud.

steve1980

They are making sure you're not cheating the system like the million of other people that are.

You were randomly chosen, simple as that.

Have you tried Sainsbury for jobs as they are looking at the moment and with your (I assume) school run to pick the kids up they are ideal for part time work.

This would save you having to go to the Job Centre every 2 weeks to sign on. It might also help your anxiety attacks that you are having.

pauletruth

you have been interviewed by their fraud team. they may send a home visitor watch you be very careful what you say and what you do.

flo-67

Why would they tell me it was just a six month check! And how would i know if the interview is recorded or not. Surely if it recorded i would have to sign a tape or something ( yes i watch police programmes) lol

josie.d

I think they would have to tell you if they are recording you, because otherwise they wouldn't be able to use any tape in a court of law if it got that far.

If you're not doing anything wrong then there is nothing to worry about.

When I was doing voluntary work a few years ago my neighbour reported me for working whilst claiming benefits, but nothing came of it as I wasn't earning any money and it could be easily proved. Even so, they kept doing spot checks on me, visiting me at home unannounced, calling me to the jobcentre to look at my bank statements, surveillance etc.

It will all come out in the wash, they are just doing their job - sounds like someone has reported you for something or other, whether it is true or not and they have to follow it up.

dave030445

pauletruth wrote: »

you have been interviewed by their fraud team. they may send a home visitor watch you be very careful what you say and what you do.

you have been watching to much tv you nutter lol

oldtractor

Whilst the interview may have been distressing if you are not fraudulently claiming anything you have nothing to worry about.

flo-67

Im going to go down there tomorrow and tell them how they have made me feel and ask why and what is going on, i am 44 years old and have never been unemployed in my life so i find the whole process sickening, ( i served 20 years RN) its hard enough having to adjust to civvie street without all this crap. I am going to take all the papers i have that my ex submitted to social services telling them that i (wait for it and dont laugh) was running swinging parties and charging entry!!!!!!!! (ok you can laugh now) and show that social services interviewed me and the children and threw it out, plus i will take copies of the injunction that the police put on him for violence towards me and also the paper showing that my daughter is under the cocoon safety system for north devon police as he was physically abusing her (his ex fiance testified that he was) and hopefully they can give me some clarification and if he has reported me for whatever, then i can show this background evidence. The only other thing i can think of is that my divorce is going through and im entitled to 17 years of his pension and the courts have had that paid to a joint account by both my solicitor and his solicitor but i wont recieve that money officially till the divorce is finalised which will be months away ( £11000) and like i said its in a limbo account by both our solicitors.

wiccanlou

My friend had this from her ex husband and I made sure she took in relevant documents showing the divorce was going through, social services were involved and that there had been intimidation and violence on the part of her ex and they were satisfied with this.

So if you are called in again for a formal taped interview and have this kind of evidence take this with you otherwise it is just a spot check that they routinely do and you are not being singled out for anything. Also you may be able to take someone with you if you feel you are unable to deal with it on your own.

cattie

flo-67 wrote: »

Why would they tell me it was just a six month check! And how would i know if the interview is recorded or not. Surely if it recorded i would have to sign a tape or something ( yes i watch police programmes) lol

You were not interviewed for fraud, so don't let the odd negative reply put that fear in your mind. If you were under suspicion for fraudulently claiming, you would have received a letter in the post asking you to attend an Interview Under Caution, which would have been recorded & attended by at least 2 DWP staff.

Six monthly checks are common and as steve1980 points out, so many people are defrauding the DWP, especially single parents who claim to be living alone, but have a partner there all or most of the time. So it's logical that they will want to ensure that you realise that by signing, you do realise that by not telling the truth, you would be committing an offence. You would have been taken to the small office for privacy reasons more than anything else I would imagine.

ceecee1

It is a routine check - the statement that you have signed proves that you have been informed and are aware of all the changes that you need to declare which could affect your benefit.

IF at some time in the future (and if you had committed fraud, not that I think you are in any way) this statement could be used as proof that you are fully aware of the things that you need to tell them.

There is no need to go down and ask what is going on because there is absolutely nothing going on.