Unannounced visit - Investigation Officer from Council

Rahmandanel

Hi

Need some advice please!

My dad received an unannounced visit from Investigation Officer from local council. As nobody was in at the time she left a letter, which reads...

'I called today at 10:45am to discuss your claim for Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit/Council Tax Reduction. As you was not at home, I will visit you on 20/08 between 9 and 2.'

'If you are not in for this visit on 20/08 your Housing/Council Tax Benefit/Council Tax Reduction will be suspended and could affect any other payments.'

'PLEASE NOTE THAT IF NO CONTACT IS MADE WITHIN 1 CALENDER MOTH FROM THE DATE OF SUSPENSION YOUR CLAIM MAY BE WITHDRAWN AND YOU MAY BE LIABLE FOR ANY OVERPAYMENT'.

My dad is disabled and gets DLA, pension credit and he doesn't pay any Council tax.

I have never heard of council ever making unannounced visit like this before.

My dad is worried for no reason as his claim is legit!

has anybody experienced this?

Why would the council make unannounced visit?

My dad is worried that somebody has made some sort of complain and they are investigation fraud!

Can somebody shed some light what we should expect?


thanks

spacey2012

You need to contact your local councillor ASAP, ask them to visit, they get a allowance for this so usually jump at the chance.

McKneff

Tell him to stop worrying, if he hasn't done anything wrong then they will soon see that he hasn't .

Rahmandanel

spacey2012 wrote: »

You need to contact your local councillor ASAP, ask them to visit, they get a allowance for this so usually jump at the chance.

What can our councillor do for us?

Rahmandanel

McKneff wrote: »

Tell him to stop worrying, if he hasn't done anything wrong then they will soon see that he hasn't .

Thank McKneff

I'm telling my dad not to worry it must be normal thing. But to be honest i'm worried myself. We are law abiding people and we are worried by the council would come like this.

Just wanted to know if anybody else has experienced this.

Also I've read online that people have had compliance officers come to visit them but she is a INVESTIGATION OFFICER..... I think a FRAUD INVESTIGATION OFFICER. (:-))

System

As you was not at home,

I am assuming that this was a pre-printed form, just fill in a few details.

If so it is a total disgrace and shows the low standards of the council's employees who are customer facing

princessdon

Does anyone else use the address? Ie a child who moved out applying for credit at that address? Does he have savings or own a home elsewhere? Has he been on a long holiday overseas?

If there is nothing you can think of then tell him not to worry

GwylimT

!!!!!! wrote: »

I am assuming that this was a pre-printed form, just fill in a few details.

If so it is a total disgrace and shows the low standards of the council's employees who are customer facing

I was thinking similar and English isn't my first language!

MidnightHour

He does get housing benefit though?

Some councils do visit, it's to make sure people are living in the property they are claiming benefit for, they usually write to tell you they will be making a visit.

Perhaps they did write to your dad and he lost/never received it.

It's nothing to worry about but make sure he is there for the next visit.

kingfisherblue

Our local council sends out officers about every three years. They just go over the forms and check that you are receiving the correct amount of benefit. I asked why I had a visit last year, and was told that it actually works out cheaper to send an officer and get everything sorted out in one visit, than to wait for people to send back forms, resend forms because the original ones have been lost, chase up copies of benefit awards, deal with appeals when there have been mistakes made on the forms by clients, etc.

The only thing that leaps out from your post is that you say your dad doesn't pay council tax. The rules changed earlier this year, and many people who didn't have to pay before now have to pay up to 20%. I'm on income support as carer for my disabled son, and now pay 20% council tax, having been exempt previously.

Also, pension credit doesn't necessarily exclude you from paying council tax. It depends on which type of pension credit it is.

Rahmandanel

!!!!!! wrote: »

I am assuming that this was a pre-printed form, just fill in a few details.

If so it is a total disgrace and shows the low standards of the council's employees who are customer facing

!!!!!! - your correct it was a pre-printed form and my dad's details, reference number and date/time of visit were penned in.