I'm so terrified....please advise

BrandNewYear

I just out of the blue received a letter from a Compliance Officer asking me to attend an interview about my benefits at the Job Centre.

Does this mean they suspect me of fraud?

I have no partner or family, keep myself to myself and nobody even knows I'm on benefits so it seems unlikely anyone would have "reported" me.

I applied for ESA in 2009 for serious mental health problems. I had Atos medical, got some points but not enough. I appealed, won my appeal and got put into Work Related ESA Group in July 2010. Since then I've not heard a thing, never been invited to any Work Related interview, never been called for a new medical. This in itself seems very unusual?

I am also on DLA.

My circumstances have not changed since the claim.

What could this be about?

Theres a so called direct line on the letter but Ive been calling all day and it's constantly engaged.

The interview is not for over a month. I'm already in a complete state and I don't know how to cope. My mental health problems have incapacitated me and I use the benefit payments for psychotherapy and for keeping a roof over my head (paying my rent). I am terrified because the letter says something about they might suspend my benefit. If they did such a thing WHEN would it happen? Would it be without warning? How would I afford to eat and pay my rent?

I called the DLA people and they have no idea what I am talking about. I called ESA and they also had no idea what I am talking about and said, "your claim is live and there is no end date."

poppasmurf_bewdley

Seriously, if you've done nothing wrong, then you have nothing to fear.

In all probability, it's just routine to see if anything has changed.

McKneff

Try to calm down, as long as you are sure that you have done nothing wrong then it will be fine.

Does the letter say anything like 'interview under caution' or just 'interview.

Do you have any one living with you, even visiting
Do you have any savings that you maybe have forgotten to declare
Do you do any sort of work, either paid or unpaid.

If not any of the above, you really shouldn't get yourself in a state about it
Ringing is futile, they will not tell you anything.

Sometimes these interviews are just routine.

BrandNewYear

McKneff wrote: »

Try to calm down, as long as you are sure that you have done nothing wrong then it will be fine.

Does the letter say anything like 'interview under caution' or just 'interview.

Do you have any one living with you, even visiting
Do you have any savings that you maybe have forgotten to declare
Do you do any sort of work, either paid or unpaid.

If not any of the above, you really shouldn't get yourself in a state about it
Ringing is futile, they will not tell you anything.

Sometimes these interviews are just routine.

It definitely does not say interview under caution. It says just interview. "We need to see you in order to discuss the benefit we are currently paying you. We need to ensure your payments are correct and it is essential that you attend this interview to discuss the matter."

It was sent from the Customer Compliance department at my local Job Centre.

I definitely don't have any savings, any kind of partner etc. I'm not joking when I say nobody has a clue what I do or how I live, my neighbours don't even know my name (sad I know) and there just isn't anybody who would be reporting me that I can imagine as they don't know I'm even on benefits.

I hope it will be OK. I have nothing to hide. The bit that frightens me is this mention of "we can suspend payment of your benefit". I would not be able to live as I have no income and no savings.

mynameistallulah

You're fine - it's just to check you are receiving your correct entitlement, nothing to worry about.

BrandNewYear

mynameistallulah wrote: »

You're fine - it's just to check you are receiving your correct entitlement, nothing to worry about.

Really? What makes you say that?

I wish I could calm down

princessdon

Try not to worry (hard I know) but it's not an interview under caution just an interview.

As you have nothing to hide then they can't spring a suprise on you. I am no expert but I would suspect for them to suspend the benefits it would be if you didn't attend the interview.

Are you sure you haven't received a letter Re an ESA wrag interview? It could be something so simple as they think you have not attended when you have either lost or not received the letter, and they are just wanting to touch base and keep you up to date

There have been a few recent threads about people worried about these interviews and although each one is different (so I can't tell you 100% it will be OK), everyone so far with nothing to hide has been smooth.

In fact they report that it was easier than they thought and in 1 instance they even rang them when they arrived home to make sure they were OK and give them verbal feedback, so they didn't worry whilst the written report took time.

Good luck - in the meantiime if you do think of anything (Ie you have been dancing on the tables on a Saturday evening and claim mobility, or a savings account you remember) then ask advice.

mynameistallulah

BrandNewYear wrote: »

Really? What makes you say that?

I wish I could calm down

The phrasing of the letter - it is a standard letter for a benefits check up.

BrandNewYear

princessdon wrote: »

Try not to worry (hard I know) but it's not an interview under caution just an interview.

As you have nothing to hide then they can't spring a suprise on you. I am no expert but I would suspect for them to suspend the benefits it would be if you didn't attend the interview.

Are you sure you haven't received a letter Re an ESA wrag interview? It could be something so simple as they think you have not attended when you have either lost or not received the letter, and they are just wanting to touch base and keep you up to date

There have been a few recent threads about people worried about these interviews and although each one is different (so I can't tell you 100% it will be OK), everyone so far with nothing to hide has been smooth.

In fact they report that it was easier than they thought and in 1 instance they even rang them when they arrived home to make sure they were OK and give them verbal feedback, so they didn't worry whilst the written report took time.

Good luck - in the meantiime if you do think of anything (Ie you have been dancing on the tables on a Saturday evening and claim mobility, or a savings account you remember) then ask advice.

The ESA office itself confirmed that there are no missed WRAG interviews on my record. I asked if it's not a bit strange not to have been called into a single meeting in two years and the person said "not really, each Job Centre runs things differently."

Putting my logical hat on instead of my panicky one, perhaps they've looked at my file, seen I've been claiming ESA solidly for 3 nows with no new medical and no WRAG interviews and they are wondering what is going on. I am seeing my Psychiatrist next week so I will ask him whether Job Centre write to him regularly for updates. I presumed they'd been getting updates from the Psych all along and that was why they kept my benefits going, but maybe they've not written to him. (The last time I know for sure they were in touch with my Psych was when he provided them with information in support of my initial claim).

princessdon

BrandNewYear wrote: »

The ESA office itself confirmed that there are no missed WRAG interviews on my record. I asked if it's not a bit strange not to have been called into a single meeting in two years and the person said "not really, each Job Centre runs things differently."

Putting my logical hat on instead of my panicky one, perhaps they've looked at my file, seen I've been claiming ESA solidly for 3 nows with no new medical and no WRAG interviews and they are wondering what is going on. I am seeing my Psychiatrist next week so I will ask him whether Job Centre write to him regularly for updates. I presumed they'd been getting updates from the Psych all along and that was why they kept my benefits going, but maybe they've not written to him. (The last time I know for sure they were in touch with my Psych was when he provided them with information in support of my initial claim).

I don't think you can know until you go - but it's not under caution so they are not suspecting anything to hand (or it would be under caution).

As said ^^ it is a standard letter - try not to worry yourself for the next month.

mikey_bach

what rate DLA are you getting, middle rate care or above if so you may be entitled to some extra benefit.
not saying this is the reason for your interview but I am sure you having nothing to worry about