single mum, i have an interview with a "customer compliance" officer?

Squidge2009

i split up with my partner in january of this year and he moved out

we have 2 small children (who live with me) so i started claiming income support and housing benefit

i was sent a form to fill in from the DSS the other week from the "benefits integrity centre" which was basically the same as the original form i had filled in for income support. (i actually posted on here then to ask if anyone else had ever had this) but anyway, so i filled it in and returned it.

i got a letter from DSS early in the week saying that my "change of circumstances had not affected my benefits" or something along those lines. but my circumstances have not changed, the only time they changed was in jan when my ex left.

then yesterday i got a letter saying i have been "invited" for an interview with someone at the jobcentre who is a "customer compliance officer" and have to bring id with me, passport, bank statements, rent book etc

i am confused and worried as it sounds ominous. does any one have any experience of this? does it mean someone has reported me for something? coz i have done nothing wrong so there would be no grounds for it unless it was malicious.

i have to wait till april 17th so i am gonna be really worried till then i am on my own with 2 under 5's and really could do with out the stress.

McKneff

it doesnt sound too bad although I'm no expert.
As they gave you a list of what to bring it sounds as if they just want to check that you are who you say you are (passport photo) and you live where you say you live. (rent book)

Dont worry about it, if you are sure youve done nothing wrong.

As far as I am aware if they were investigating you for doing something wrong it would be a recorded interview and it would be labelled 'under caution'
Hope that reassures you a bit.

nannytone_2

this is what happens when a system is so open to abuse .... genuine claimants get hauled over the coals. but i suppose in the scheme of things ... bing put out in order for the system to pay your living costs is probably a minor blip ...

dseventy

Squidge2009 wrote: »

i split up with my partner in january of this year and he moved out

we have 2 small children (who live with me) so i started claiming income support and housing benefit

i was sent a form to fill in from the DSS the other week from the "benefits integrity centre" which was basically the same as the original form i had filled in for income support. (i actually posted on here then to ask if anyone else had ever had this) but anyway, so i filled it in and returned it.

i got a letter from DSS early in the week saying that my "change of circumstances had not affected my benefits" or something along those lines. but my circumstances have not changed, the only time they changed was in jan when my ex left.

then yesterday i got a letter saying i have been "invited" for an interview with someone at the jobcentre who is a "customer compliance officer" and have to bring id with me, passport, bank statements, rent book etc

i am confused and worried as it sounds ominous. does any one have any experience of this? does it mean someone has reported me for something? coz i have done nothing wrong so there would be no grounds for it unless it was malicious.

i have to wait till april 17th so i am gonna be really worried till then i am on my own with 2 under 5's and really could do with out the stress.

When you want intervention from the state (ie benefits - Income support) sometimes this intervention requires you answer questions and some level of scrutiny.

Unfortunatly the single parent eligilibity element of Income Support is abused (ie people claim to be single when they are not). Usually people will "shop you in" (often people you know and in the same boat) if they think you are abusing the system or "getting your cake and eating it".

If you truly are single and not in a relationship as defined by the state, you have nothing to worry about and just let the process run its course.

D70

wiccanlou

Did you notify them when your partner left in January? Its possible they are just checking up that this is still the case and want to see evidence that you are spending in line with that and so on. Do you have a maintenance agreement with your ex? If not and he has been giving you money you need to get something from him detailing what he gives you and when and what for.

As the others have said there are those who abuse the system so everyone is open to scrutiny from the DWP which is understandable as if they didn't do checks those who are breaking the rules would continue taking the proverbial making the system a complete and utter failure.

Take in what they request and think about each and every question and the answer you give before saying it to them. You say you haven't got anything to worry about if you are complying with the rules.

nannytone_2

i put in a claim for ESA in july when i split from my lomg term partner ....i had a customer compliance unterview in september. the person that interviewed me apologised for the tome of the letter. he said it was just a check to make sure all the information was still correct. from what youve said, im assuming that your intervuew us along the same lines

McKneff

Sorry to hear about your split Nannytone.

Are you doing okay?

HappyMJ

McKneff wrote: »

it doesnt sound too bad although I'm no expert.
As they gave you a list of what to bring it sounds as if they just want to check that you are who you say you are (passport photo) and you live where you say you live. (rent book)

Dont worry about it, if you are sure youve done nothing wrong.

As far as I am aware if they were investigating you for doing something wrong it would be a recorded interview and it would be labelled 'under caution'
Hope that reassures you a bit.

eeeek...I'd be stuffed then. No passport and no rent book. I pay monthly via bank transfer and never see the landlord. The only proof I am who I say I am is the letters from the DWP and the council which I used as ID to open a bank account.

nannytone_2

never been better thanks mckneff.... finally a person in my own right again!

paulofessex

Also l think what happens on many occasions is that the partner who left continues to use that address for various agencies therefore when cross referencing is done by certain agencies it may create a red flag indicator.

I would urge anyone who splits from a partner not to allow the partner to still have mail sent to that address, of course you can't to much about ensuring said partner informs relevant agencies of change of address.

McKneff

nannytone wrote: »

never been better thanks mckneff.... finally a person in my own right again!

Hey :j:j:j

Up an' at 'em girl................