Are they real

stevectaylor

A friend of mine who lives 20 miles away has had her credits stopped and recalculated for the refund for the last year. Reason, they state they have documents that I live there!

I was angered and somewhat embarrassed when it was bought to my attention they have made wild and unfounded insinuations that I am in some form of co-habitation relationship with the claimant living together at an address in Nottingham over the last year and beyond.

Crazy thing is we are friends and never stayed and only spent no more than 4 hours a month drinking coffee....

pickpocketlocket

Calm down. What documents do they have that indicate you live there?

McKneff

Youre going a bit OTT.

Calm down, you'll give your self an ulcer.

benefitbaby

You could not believe the daft decisions that are made... on a practical note benefit law is clear that you cannot reside in two homes at the same time so your friend needs to prove that you live elsewhere, based on your post that should be easy (tenancy agreement, rent book, bills that are in your name etc). She needs to supply this to the office that made the decision along with a GL24 appeal form. You could also write a witness statement for her to send.

For benefits they have to show that on the balance of probabilities you are 'living together as husband and wife' (that does not mean married). First they need to show a common household and then they have to consider your relationship, how others see your relationship, any children you may have together, any sexual relationship, whether you share expenses/bills/holidays etc. Your friend needs to dispute all of these aspects and request copies of their evidence (she is entitled to this and should make a 'subject access request' under the data protection act).

stevectaylor

All they said is on information in there possession. I can only assume someone has been vindictive and put me in a crossfire. I don't claim benefits or even make any payment what so ever. I feel citing me without first asking and just making wild assumptions is a total violation of my human rights and privacy.

pickpocketlocket

stevectaylor wrote: »

All they said is on information in there possession. I can only assume someone has been vindictive and put me in a crossfire. I don't claim benefits or even make any payment what so ever. I feel citing me without first asking and just making wild assumptions is a total violation of my human rights and privacy.

You are being silly now, there has been no "violation" of your human rights.

Again, has she asked what evidence they have to support this belief?

PippaGirl_2

That thought made me smile Steve, sorry! However they haven't accused you of anything, they have accused her. This should be really easy to prove. I would guess the person probably causing this is known to you both.

stevectaylor

PippaGirl wrote: »

That thought made me smile Steve, sorry! However they haven't accused you of anything, they have accused her. This should be really easy to prove. I would guess the person probably causing this is known to you both.

Yes we have suspicion who. Problem is they have totally stopped her benefits and recalculating back for a payment. The real issue is she is stressed to death and is supposed to have surgery tomorrow.

fannyadams

What REALLY annoys me is that they STILL automatically assume that if you are a man and a woman in the same house then you MUST be living together as man and wife.
I claimed HB & CTB and 'they' came out to the property to inspect where I was living as I was a lodger in my male friend's house (no I wasn't seeing him).
Fast forward two years and I claimed HB & CTB again whilst living at a female friends house - how strange no visit!

PippaGirl_2

I placed a claim for benefits once when my fil lived with me, he'd had a CVA and I cared for him. I got turned down initially because he lived in my house and I cooked for him and he ate with me and the children that made us partners. Fortunately one level up saw sense.

missbunbury

OP, this is obviously stressful for your friend but to be honest, you getting wound up and angry and starting on about human rights is only going to stress her out more. The best way for you to be a good friend to her would be to calmly offer to provide any paperwork they may need to see to prove you don't live there and tell her that since she has done nothing wrong she needn't get too worked up about it. Do bear in mind that this is her problem not yours, she is the one claiming not you, I know it sounds harsh but really, you wading in all guns blazing when you are "just a friend" might look suspicious if anything. If I were her, I would be querying what information they have to make them think such a thing? Have you, for example, used her address to have letters sent to?