I'm so terrified....please advise

BrandNewYear

leamingtonspaceman wrote: »

They send these letters out using terms such as 'compliance' to people claiming ESA and then give an interview date a month in advance. Unfortunately, these types of letters can create panic in many ESA claimants who struggle with uncertainty.

Why on earth can't the DWP send the letters nearer to the appointment or, even better, reassure the recipient that the appointment is just to discuss benefit entitlement and is nothing to be alarmed about. Wouldn't be hard to put this in a standard letter.

Part of the reason for my panic is that on the internet some people seem to be saying this almost certainly a fraud investigation.

If they just wanted to check my benefit entitlement why wouldn't they write to me or send me a form to fill in and send back? :mad:

rogerblack

BrandNewYear wrote: »

Part of the reason for my panic is that on the internet some people seem to be saying this almost certainly a fraud investigation.

It may well be.
That doesn't mean you should worry excessively.
I was recently accused of benefit fraud.
Unfortunately I was innocent, and the interview was not problematic.

(Unfortunately, as I'd really have liked to be able to do the things claimed)

emweaver

BrandNewYear wrote: »

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.

I had this exact same letter and am off work for mental health too and it was because I was reported for "faking " it as I went on holiday. the officer said although I had done nothing wrong they have to follow it up just to put on paper they had followed up the complaint.

Like others have said if your not doing anything wrong dont worry. they will inform you before stopping your money.

BrandNewYear

emweaver wrote: »

I had this exact same letter and am off work for mental health too and it was because I was reported for "faking " it as I went on holiday. the officer said although I had done nothing wrong they have to follow it up just to put on paper they had followed up the complaint.

Like others have said if your not doing anything wrong dont worry. they will inform you before stopping your money.

horrendous, who reported you for going on holiday? And how did this nasty person even know you were on benefits?

recoverydust

The DWP do not contact your medical team. That is all done by atos now.

This is a routine enquiry, but because you are anxious make sure you take someone with you. If you have a support worker, go with them. Take a friend or contact your nearest mental health advocacy organisation (google is your friend)

It is almost impossible not to worry, I was frantic when I got a letter. My husband is my benefits appointee, so he went with a peer support worker. It was nothing and they checked all our benefits and they were fine. They said they sample claimants and it's random.

Take good care
Xxx

BrandNewYear

recoverydust wrote: »

The DWP do not contact your medical team. That is all done by atos now.

This is a routine enquiry, but because you are anxious make sure you take someone with you. If you have a support worker, go with them. Take a friend or contact your nearest mental health advocacy organisation (google is your friend)

It is almost impossible not to worry, I was frantic when I got a letter. My husband is my benefits appointee, so he went with a peer support worker. It was nothing and they checked all our benefits and they were fine. They said they sample claimants and it's random.

Take good care
Xxx

So did you receive this same "we need to interview you" letter?

emweaver

BrandNewYear wrote: »

horrendous, who reported you for going on holiday? And how did this nasty person even know you were on benefits?

It was my sister! She also told them I had a car so was faking being mentally ill.

BrandNewYear

On a more practical level, on the letter it says "if you cannot keep this appointment or wish to report any changes in your circumstances, please contact me immediately on the above direct line number to arrange a mutually convenient appointment."

I do need to rearrange the appointment to a day when my support worker can accompany me. However, I called that number all day yesterday and it was permanently engaged. I assumed it was just a busy day in the office. But even when I called that number at 11pm and again at 6am it was also engaged. It seems to be a dud number. No physical address is given. How am I supposed to contact them to rearrange???

BrandNewYear

So I finally managed to get through to somebody there on the phone. The man said: "It is purely routine. It's just to go over the details of your claim and it's us who does the interview because your claim is with Belfast which obviously is miles away from you."

I said, "I've been worrying myself sick. So I'm not in some kind of trouble then?"

He said: "No, no, no not at all."

Hmmmm. I'm not sure what to think.

Almost every mention of "compliance officer" and "jobcentre" I could find on Google seems to be connected to fraud allegations.

I had to take a Valium last night to calm down. I wish my mind could be reasonable. I keep telling myself that if they thought I'd done anything bad (which I haven't anyway) presumably it'd be a Fraud Investigation Unit person interviewing me and so on.

BrandNewYear

I have not eaten anything since Sunday at 8pm. I have not been able to eat since receiving the Compliance letter.

Do you think this might be a bit of an overreaction or is it normal to be this stressed about things. I must have looked at the letter about 50 or more times since receiving it yesterday morning. Only now have I noticed it appears to be asking me to bring a passport or driving license AND one utility bill, one rent agreement and one bank statement. I don't have a rent agreement because I am on a Periodical Tenancy. The only bank statements I have are online. Or could they mean they just need one document from that list anyway?