verification framework home visit

moneymum_4

I got a letter this morning from my council revenues and benefits service.I will be getting a visit from a verification officer.I'm supposed to have ready proof of identity,income,bills,bank accounts etc.The letter says it's a 'verification framework' visit.
I'm just wondering why they want to visit me at home? Surely they will looking for signs that I am being fraudulent.Will they go looking in my bedrooms to see if I've got lodgers or what? Has anyone had one of these verification visits?
I've got nothing to hide,and I only get a little housing benefit.But I dont want some official sniffing around in my house.Ive been informed of the day when they will be visiting.My understanding is that they don't even have to inform you,they can turn up whenever they like.
I cant help getting angry about this.Anyone experienced this?

CIS

They just check paperwork etc and maybe ask a few verification questions - its a standard check by the Council but DWP also do random checks for the same sort of thing but un-announced as an anti-fraud measure.

It may not be ideal for people but they're not going prevent fraud if they dont visit people to check paperwork.

violetmva

I just had someone coming this morning from the council and they asked for identification for me and hubbyand i showed passports but they didn't come in. They asked if i have bank statements and other bills and i said yes but they didn't want to see them. Strange - Saturday morning visits

moneymum_4

I'm wondering why they want to visit me at home? I can provide all the paperwork without the need for an invasion of my privacy.So I'll be waiting in all day between 9am and 2pm,so some council official can make sure I'm not a criminal,even though there is no evidence to suggest that I am.So no it's far from ideal.
Please,comments welcome from people who've actually had a visit from a verification officer in their homes.
Very strange experience for you Violet.Papers please!

CIS

One of the reasons is to check you are resident at the property you claim to be

moneymum_4

Utility bills,bank statements,driving licence.What more do they need? Being at the address when they come round does not prove I'm resident.My documents do.

Glyndwr_2

I'm on IB, IS (disability premium), DLA & CT benefit. Last year I had a Council visit. I'm pretty sure they gave a time they'd be there, or within a couple of hours time frame. They told me what they wanted the most recent evidence of - bank statements, IS, DLA etc & phoned a couple of days before to re-confirm. Very pleasant. Showed ID. Didn't look around. Asked a couple of questions, got me to sign a bit of paper (can't remember what it said now, but not much on it & straightforward). They didn't look at all the paperwork (& I'd spent ages finding one of the bits they didn't look at) and took digital pictures of (I think) the bank statements for their records (they showed the IB, IS & DLA going in) & that was it. No more than 5 mins.

Yes I was worried beforehand. No reason to be in that I wasn't doing anything dodgy, but that doesn't stop you worrying why they'd 'picked' on you.

moneymum_4

Thanks for posting Glyndwr,and sharing your experience.It just seams so surreal that you had officials taking pictures of your documents in your home.Until now I wouldn't have expected that to happen inless someone was being investigated by the police.
At least now I know what to expect.

Glyndwr_2

I guess they're just checking things out & my name probably just came up on some random list. It's obvious my place is only 1 bed (I wish it was bigger!) & although I could have someone else here, there isn't space for a lodger. I didn't feel at all intimidated (but didn't stop me worrying leading up to it). I think it was just that my name came up on the system (I'd claimed for about a year since redundancy / hospital operation at the time). As I said it didn't stop me worrying & feeling guilty, but all was straight forward.

Morglin

They visit you at home to make sure you actually live there. Government rules demand that checks are made on all claimants at various times.

They need to check certain documents, but will not look around your home.

if you are in any doubt about who they are, then ask to see their ID - all government and council officials are obliged to carry and show ID.

Lin

bergy2

Hi there
I work with young people who are setting up tenancies and this is a standard thing that technically should happen to anyone claiming HB or CTB periodically

It is as said above just a quick check to see you are really living there and verifies who you are, what you are earning etc - the people who do it take a few minutes and are fairly nice usually

A more scary one is the DWP call people into their offices - often miles away and people often feel more intimidated by those - the council at least come and see you