Housing/Council Tax Benefit: FRAUD investigation!

Chrysalis

sarymclary wrote: »

Thanks for noticing TheWaltons.

This is exactly where the confusion is for this whole thing really. FWIW, he's done the bikes over a period of several months, on and off, as and when he feels fit; not in the winter months because his back is worse in colder weather. He can potter in and out whenever he feels able, but this isn't heavy mechanic work, more cosmetic work, such as spraying bodywork & sticker kits, and this can be done sitting down too, as he can't stand for lengthy periods. He's been stir crazy not working, so getting his mate's bikes looking nice has been a good distraction; we get a chinese meal for his efforts.

The BF & mate used to race bikes together years back, so there's a motorbiking relationship history here, and the mate now has 2 businesses he runs which means he doesn't have the time anymore, which is why he asked the BF to advertise a couple for him on ebay, which I think sold out of auction anyway, so the sale can't be proven, but the profit won't have been vast (these have been cheap bikes of a few hundred pounds, with small profit). My BF had 2 bikes when he had to stop working, but he sold these over a year ago to fund Xmas for his kids.

Having had 4 ops on his back now, he's not exactly blagging his condition, and having seen him carted off in an ambulance unable to move & crying in pain, using gas & air, I'd say he's been more than convincing to me! It's been a long road to recovery, and he is improving, but it's not nice being judged when you consider yourself a genuine claimant.

He's worked for 25 years without days off sick prior to this, so thanks for all those who have judged my BF's condition, but I digress. There is a process of medical questionaires and examinations to qualify for IB, and he had to appeal the original decision before a panel of 3 people in order to get his benefit. Believe you me, living on IB compared to a regular wage isn't easily done, and he'd rather have his old job/life back, if he could do it. You don't have to be in a coma or in an iron lung in order to qualify for IB you know.

We were simply intrigued as to how a claim for COUNCIL TAX & HOUSING BENEFIT, could have been made fraudulently, because we were at a loss to work it out. I had hoped someone with some knowledge of this process could help, which is why I gave the information I did.

Good luck I think its all to easy to be judged by people who in reality have no clue what the personal circumstances are, wether fluctuating condition if although appear to be healthy in constant pain etc. For example I think I really should be using either a walking stick or crutches but feel too embarrassed to use them so instead I can only do very limited walking and on good days I probably look fit and healthy to passers by.

I would expect someone somewhere has said something that has triggered the investigation so I would just advise make sure you prepare for it and be honest.

Chrysalis

Gaz83 wrote: »

Well, people are given Housing and Council Tax Benefit because they're not in a position where they can work, so if he's saying that he's got a bad back but someone has reported him doing work on motorbikes, and they start thinking: "well hang on, maybe this chap's back's not as bad as they say it is"; it's actually pretty common for all the benefits agencies to do a combined investigation and pool resources for it.

So no, it's not "of no interest to them", and from the information you gave in the original post, that's what I (and others) seen as the thing out the ordinary.

It could just be a random check.

Actually they benefits paid out for people on low income which can be in employment as well as unemployed. I would expect going to a bike thats probably just outside his door on a few occasions only and only for short periods of time and as well as having to sit down is largely different to doing a full time job. Think these things through carefully although people can appear healthy they may well not be and what may seem something trivial it often isnt.

Morglin

When your BF goes for his interview, they will tell him what they are investigating.

He should give his side of it all honeslty, and hopefully, after they have investigated, his benefits will be reinstated (assuming he has done nothing wrong, of course).

If you need some legal advice, contact:

http://www.clsdirect.org.uk/index.jsp

Lin

bestpud

I think, to be fair, people were offering possible reasons for the letter. The OP spoke of her partner doing up bikes and, if we reading it think it worth mentioning, then other people nearby to the OP may too?

Sometimes people act before they find out the facts, and in real life, that is not just posting a query about what was said on a forum, but often reporting people to different agencies.

I don't think anyone has said anything about false claims. The OP was looking for possible reasons - a malicious or ill-informed informant could be one!

I apologise if you took offence to my post but it was an observation, nothing more.

Best wishes,

bestpud

real1314

Definitley a bit confusing, as DWP don;t investigate HB/CTB, that's down to the local council. DWP will deal with HB/CTB if there's another benefit involved (e.g Incap Ben, Inc Support etc) but not Hb/CTB only.

However the OP has said that DWP and Tax Credits were told when the son left and the OP's friend stoppeed being a lone parent. Did the OP's pal tell the council? The HB/CTB might be being paid as a lone parent, which could be incorrect.

The council may also have got wind of the Mtorbike sales, which would potentially affect HB/CTB.

Chrysalis

yep that is true when informing of changes HB/CB have to be told seperatly to DWP.

Anthillmob

aye, the dwp do inform LAs most of the time (meant to be all of the time) but sometimes take so long in doing so that its in anyones best interest to inform all partieis involved themselves.

Definitley a bit confusing, as DWP don;t investigate HB/CTB, that's down to the local council. DWP will deal with HB/CTB if there's another benefit involved (e.g Incap Ben, Inc Support etc) but not Hb/CTB only.

the DWP can do a joint investigation and sometimes an LA will 'overload to the DWP' any fraud referalls they deem worthy of investigating but dont have the resources for etc