Customer compliance interview for undeclared benefits (I think)

Yasmin25_2

Thanks everyone for your replies.

Yeah he is phoning up RBS on Monday to see exactly how much is in his ISA and to request to take out money to pay off the rent arrears and for anything else we may need it for. He says he has a fixed price on his ISA. He said something about his can't go above £7,000 and he has taken money out over the years so it should be well under £6,000 or just slightly above. If I tell them about the ISA there and then, would the case go any further?

Yeah you could be right that the interview is nothing to do with the ISA but instead to do with the form we filled out about a week ago for backdated money to cover the rent arrears as we were waiting to get JSA at that time or could be a random check to see everything is in order or better yet, someone could have reported us for something.

If I call the job centre tomorrow or even walk in as its a five min walk from me, would they tell me what my interview was about? Even just give me a rough idea?

I am terrified of this interview even though I don't know for sure exactly what it is about. Like I said the fact bring proof of savings/ISA was highlighted gives me a rough idea. Other than his ISA there is nothing else to tell. I am worried in case I or him end up getting an interview under caution or something next!

Sorry for all the worrying. I hate dealing with officials. They usually make you feel like you are a criminal whether you are or not.

Once again, thanks everyone.

Yasmin25_2

Also would it say on the letter I have received if it were under caution? There is no mention of that at all. Or would I be told an the interview if it was?

benefitbaby

If it was an interview under caution the letter would say so, you could call and ask but I expect you will get the stock answer that it is about a doubt on your claim. Just gather together the bank statements for all accounts and take this into the interview.

Remember if you or your boyfriend spend any savings to bring them below £6k to try to 'solve' this issue then the DWP can and do treat you as still having the capital under deprivation of capital rules. If however you have to spend some savings to prevent a dire rent arrears situation and safeguard your home and this is the main reason you need to dip into savings then this would be OK as the significant operative purpose is not to gain benefits or increase your entittlement to benefits.

Yasmin25_2

His laptop broke a few months ago and he bought a fancy new one at around £3,000. He said he had some money saved up from over the years (which I believed since he was always going on about a laptop with the specs of this new one from the moment I met him 4 yrs ago) and said that his dad helped him out (now I know it was from his ISA). This was in Feb or March when we were still full time students, so a wee while before we applied for JSA.

I take it that will be assumed that he 'spent money to gain benefits'?

I have no savings or ISAs and the most I had in my account in the last few months was about £800 from my mother for my 21st birthday to go to Iceland on holiday.

Troutwrestler

Yasmin25 wrote: »

His laptop broke a few months ago and he bought a fancy new one at around £3,000. He said he had some money saved up from over the years (which I believed since he was always going on about a laptop with the specs of this new one from the moment I met him 4 yrs ago) and said that his dad helped him out (now I know it was from his ISA). This was in Feb or March when we were still full time students, so a wee while before we applied for JSA.

I take it that will be assumed that he 'spent money to gain benefits'?

I have no savings or ISAs and the most I had in my account in the last few months was about £800 from my mother for my 21st birthday to go to Iceland on holiday.

A £3000 laptop??. :eek:

Yasmin25_2

Yip! I nearly choked when he told me the price. Fair enough he uses it every single day and its pride and joy but imo, that was way to much to spend on a laptop whether he is rich or not. The most I would ever go is £1000 for a laptop.

MisterMan_2

Yasmin25 wrote: »

Yip! I nearly choked when he told me the price. Fair enough he uses it every single day and its pride and joy but imo, that was way to much to spend on a laptop whether he is rich or not. The most I would ever go is £1000 for a laptop.

I guess it depends. If his planned career after college is something that would benefit from a 3k laptop, then maybe it can be justified. Like if he's bought a MacBook Pro and his aim is to be a creative professional (like a graphics designer or something) then he could try to argue (or explain would be a better term) that it's an industry standard tool.

Yasmin25_2

He's studying computer games development at college and plans to study it at uni either next year or the following so needs a decent computer. I still think £3,000 was too much but it was his call. He also called the bank. His savings are under £6000 if that goes for anything.

benefitbaby

The DWP will likely question your boyfriend's £3k drop in savings however this was spent whilst a student studying games development, before contemplating claiming benefits so it is likely to be difficult for the DWP to show on the balance of probabilities that his intent was to gain benefit entitlement.

Yasmin25_2

Hi I went to the interview today and yeah it was about his ISA. They say they see he had £7000 in 2009 when he was 18 and they are going to check it out. When I got home he told me he also had some money in stocks and shares that his dad out in for him once his mum died and that took him to £17,000 and he was claiming JSA at the time. The money in his account was only over £16,000 grand in total for a few days as money for driving lessons, his first laptop and lawyer fees came off.

I am now worried sick that they will find out about the stock and shares and the ISA coming together and being over £16,000 at one point even if it was only for a few days. The stocks and shares money is all gone and all he has left is around £5000 in his ISA but like I said, they are looking back to 2009 as well as now.

I am worried sick he'll get charged for benefit fraud now and sent to court instead of just paying any money back.