URGENT help required - interview under caution today RE housing benefit

Kate199954

Dear all

I have been asked to attend an interview under caution today with regard to Housing Benefit. I would like to postpone this interview but have already done this once (first interview was set for 2 weeks ago but I was unwell so requested another date). I telephoned yesterday to confirm my attendance but after doing some online research last night I think that it is best that I do not attend the interview alone and seek some legal advice and find a solicitor to attend with me. I would like to find out if I was to postpone the interview again today until I have a solicitor to attend with me and some further evidence to prove my innocence (I believe I know why this has happened but there is no indication of this in their letter requesting I attend the interview) would this cause more trouble or should I go along today? Thank you in advance

I haven't spoken to any family or friends about this and I am worried sick. CAB were no use - told me to look online. I am going to phone a local solicitor at 9am today but I know that they won't be able to help straight away.

superwoman4

Just my opinion, but I doubt they will let you keep postponing and they may make a decision in your absence. Wouldn't it be better to just go along and state your case. Good luck.

Kate199954

Thank you. I have been awake most of the night and debating this.

notanewuser

Why would you wait until the night before to start researching?!

Housing_Benefit_Officer

If you have nothing to hide and have not committed fraud then you have nothing to hide and nothing to worry about.

Kate199954

notanewuser wrote: »

Why would you wait until the night before to start researching?!

Apologies, I didn't explain myself properly in my original post. I should have put I carried out some further research last night and found a website I had not seen before which advised "it's better not to attend the interview if you will be going alone without seeking legal advice". I have been looking at online information over the past 2 weeks and people on forums were suggesting to not take a solicitor as it "makes you look like you have money" which I don't. It took me almost 2 weeks to finally get hold of someone at CAB and then there answer was to use their website and look online - which I have already done.

Kate199954

Housing_Benefit_Officer wrote: »

If you have nothing to hide and have not committed fraud then you have nothing to hide and nothing to worry about.

Thank you. The error, I believe, has come from a previous employer saying I worked for them longer than I did. This has come to my attention all in one hit really from the Tax Office, Tax Credits and Housing Benefit.

My only concern is that, at this moment in time, I do not have the evidence I have requested from my previous employer to prove that I did not work for them after July 2011. I have asked them to send me alleged copies of my time claim sheets (they will not be able to do this as I did not work there and did not submit any).

It is a massive mess that I am trying to deal with to the best of my ability.

sammyjammy

If you have done nothing wrong you don't need a solicitor, it is for the mto prove you have committed fraud rather than you to prove you have not. If you don't want to go on your own take a friend. Putting it off again will just make you worry about it more.

sleepless_saver

Kate199954 wrote: »

My only concern is that, at this moment in time, I do not have the evidence I have requested from my previous employer to prove that I did not work for them after July 2011. I have asked them to send me alleged copies of my time claim sheets (they will not be able to do this as I did not work there and did not submit any).

Just a thought, but do you have bank statements showing that they were paying you regularly then stopped after July 2011? Wouldn't be the best of evidence but might help.

PippaGirl_2

I would go and state your case as you have here. If at any time they ask any question that you are not happy answering say that you will defer any answer until you have sought legal advice and refuse to answer it, that is within your rights. But by the sounds of what you think has caused the problem, there really should be no problem and you can go and answer all questions.

You could have asked for a SAR from your old employer and they would have had to provide all your paperwork within 28 days. Do that next if they delay and tell the interviewers that will be what you will do and they know they will get their evidence soon.

sleepless_saver

PippaGirl wrote: »

You could have asked for a SAR from your old employer and they would have had to provide all your paperwork within 28 days. Do that next if they delay and tell the interviewers that will be what you will do and they know they will get their evidence soon.

SAR=subject access request http://www.ico.org.uk/for_the_public/personal_information