"Interview under caution..."

epitome

FBaby wrote: »

Did you hear the story about the woman who thought she was transferring money from her current account to her saving account each month to realise more than a year later than she had made one digit error and all her money went to a total stranger. I believe she wasn't able to claim that money back... What if the same had happen with your above arrangement?

It REALLY is essential to always check your accounts.

I always send £1 as the first transfer, check my receiving account has received £1, and then I know its safe from then on.

epitome

tomtom256 wrote: »

But we have no way of knowing he has informed the council or indeed the DWP in a timely manner.

Yes we do, the OP has said as much.

Posting the return to work in the job centre isn't the correct way to end a claim so no surprising no one knew he had "declared" he had started work.

Yes it is, you are completing your ES40 as instucted to do so on the ES40 and returning it to the address on the ES40 as instructed to do so on the ES40. You are also, by doing this, informing the secretary of state as you are required to do under the legislation. This is EXACTLY what I did when I ended my claim to JSA, although I took an extra precaution and delivered it by hand through the jobcentres letterbox on a weekend when they were closed.... I did not want any delays in the post.... they closed my claim ok.... luckily. I say luckily because I now have heard a hundred horror stories of DWP #@&k ups.

Jamie_Carter

I can't believe you lot are entertaining this.

It's obvious that the OP is changing their story to suit with each post.

It all points towards someone who realised that the HB was still being paid, but decided to keep quiet about it.

tomtom256

epitome wrote: »

Yes we do, the OP has said as much.

Yes it is, you are completing your ES40 as instucted to do so on the ES40 and returning it to the address on the ES40 as instructed to do so on the ES40. You are also, by doing this, informing the secretary of state as you are required to do under the legislation. This is EXACTLY what I did when I ended my claim to JSA, although I took an extra precaution and delivered it by hand through the jobcentres letterbox on a weekend when they were closed.... I did not want any delays in the post.... they closed my claim ok.... luckily. I say luckily because I now have heard a hundred horror stories of DWP #@&k ups.

Oh right but based on the ever changing story he must of informed them.

I was led to believe that if signing of because you have started work you ring the in work section at Boston and not your local job centre.

bloolagoon

I just don't understand why they would a formal interview for a clerical error, they can see he signed off JSA, so hardly the actions of someone fraudulent, it seems like a waste of tax payer money not to simply request a repayment plan.

However, things don't ring true, they were happily in work and would be paid notice period and have consultation time so to start claiming benefits within a few days of being happily employed makes no sense.

I think that you need to look long and hard at whether anything else can cause this.

Did you move back in with your partner, did you have savings you didn't declare, do you own a house for example.

nannytone_2

thats what ive been daying for almost the whole thread!. its a 2 month overpayment. so more than likely under £1k.
they have to have reason to suspect that something else is going on, otherwise they would just set up a repayment schedule

bloolagoon

I also do not accept they did not check their bank accounts. They have previously had debt issues and repossession of a home so once you have been through an experience like that you become more financially aware.

Once upon a time I never checked my bank account either, but I knew roughly what was there and learnt the lesson last year which was my horrible year with illness and job losses. I will never again be so financially irresponsible, so lightbulb moment remain with you.

To go from having very little savings to qualify for benefits and have no knowledge of £500 a month overpayments doesn't make any sense to me.

DonutUK

I am not changing my story at all.

I filled out the relevant section in the little green book.....posted it through the letterbox of my local Job Centre on the Sunday before i started work.

Yes, i have had debt issues and a home repossession.......one of the reasons i do not obsess over my bank account.....i cannot bear watching every penny....i get too stressed about it.

The council are claiming that the overpayment is Jan, Feb and March....at £91.15 a week.....that is in the region of £1k is it not?

I have paid my own rent in Jan, Feb, Mar, etc etc....and i was not claiming any benefit before being made redundant.

There was no consultation...i was called into see the MD on a Thursday lunchtime and told that my services were no longer required as there was no longer a job for me to do.....I was paid until the end of the month....but i didn't know that until i received a payslip at the end of the month. A fact that the DWP were fully aware of.

I still have no written confirmation of my employment ending other than a P45 which i received sometime in Dec.

If i had known that i was still being paid in error, i would have dealt with it then and there.......i don't need the stress of having to go through this.

I cannot attend any midweek interviews without losing money due to taking time off work....i will happily attend an interview when it is not going to cost me to do so. As this is potentially a criminal issue, am i able to get legal aid?

I know that the only thing that i have done wrong is not to be vigilant with my accounts....but i had no reason to suspect that the DWP and Council were totally incapable of enacting such a mundane matter. To be fair, i don't think the DWP has done a lot wrong other than lose my paperwork....and yes, i was due to sign on during hte Xmas break, hence the delays in their side of things.

Once i had posted the booklet back i believed i had done everything required of me to notify my change in circumstance...this was confirmed to me by the "hub" when i spoke to them subsequently.

epitome

Do what I said to do in post #3.

IMHO it would be best if you still have the money, and it will help your case if you can say in your statement that you have not spent the money as you did not realise it was still being paid. And that you would like to repay the amount in FULL immediately and you ask them how you can do this.

If I were you, I would not take a day off work to accommodate them but that is up to you.

nannytone_2

do you have the money to give them back?
you said before that you are earning well and live within your means.
that would indicate that the housing benefit overpayment should be sitting in your bank account.
if this is the case, it will give some credibility to your statement that you never check your account.
if you dont have it in your account, then that would mean that you have spent it, and considering you know how much you ear, to overspend by almost £100 a week, would be difficult to do without wondering where the money was coming from.

you really dont have a choice about attending the interview. unless you can sort out a suitable time with them. they could go as far as obtaining a warrant for your arrest.... andit would be getting very serious indeed