Benefit fraud interview under caution

Mclark_2

Hi there, I received a letter yesterday to go for an interview because they have reason to believe I live with my partner. I have a complicated story and really need some advice as feeling so upset and low.

When I found out I was pregnant with my daughter I also found out that my partner had over £24000 worth of debt that he has not disclosed to me. This broke our relationship apart and I decided that he was too much of a liability to live with as his debts were more than our income.

He moved in with his parents and at that time we were not longer together which was a hard position to be in as a single parent and being pregnant. When our daughter was born she was premature therefor he stated in the house with my son while I was at hospital.

We grew closer together and although he did not move in we started a relationship which has grown from strength to strength. He would come down every morning to help with the kids and also come over after work to see them both and help me with the house etc. this went on from march 2012 - start of May this year when he finally moved back in after I began full time work as a child minder and he had payed a lot of debt due to a second weekend job.

My partners car was always at my home as I used it for my work and for the kids and he did not use it for work as always got the train. I received the letter yesterday and thought it was because I hadn't got round to phoning up the various benefits to inform the
That my partner had
Moved in just shy of 2 weeks ago.

After phoning to ask about the letter they then said they have evidence to believe he has always stayed here. What kind of evidence is this? It was genuine but I have a horrible horrible feeling I'm in huge trouble?

The evidence I have to back it up are letter from his parents with the dates in which he stayed and his last day living there, proof he is registered to his mum and dads address plus I am going to ask my landlord to write a letter stating when he moved in
I really am frantically worried
Thanks very much any advice would be much appreciated

tomtontom

Perhaps they have evidence of him leaving for work and coming 'home' everyday? Did he pay towards any bills, eat meals with you?

You must appreciate how much of a coincidence it is that he just happens to have moved back two weeks ago?

rogerblack

It is likely credit reference agency data.

Important facts you probably want to keep in mind.
The relationship came to an end - you did not at that time envision ever getting back together with him.

What would friends or relatives at that time have said?

The problem you may have is not proving that he had another place.
It's proving that you were not 'living together as husband and wife' - due to treating the houses as one.

There are two possible offences.
A) Fictitious desertion.
He never went to (other than perhaps for a short period) live elsewhere, and the whole reason for him saying he did so was to get (more) benefit.
Not reporting him moving back in.
What 'moving in' means is unfortunately complex.

'The kids' - are you referring to another child with him that happened after the one you mention?

Mclark_2

No he did not pay towards bills atal. Yes he did eat with his kids as we tried to keep the situation as 'normal' for them as possible? We had an interview with a mortgage advisor on the 28th of April as we decided to buy together instead of rent to give our relationship the best start but I was declined a mortgage as did not have a years self employment income so that is why he moved in on the following Friday as we would have to wait another year to rue apply for a mortgage so moved him in. I still have the invoice from the removal man with proof the move was from his mums to mine?

dseventy

Hi

There is always 2 sides to every story, the truth usually being somewhere in the middle.

However your post sounds dodgy, it sounds like you have declared to be "single" and taken all the advantages (£) of it, yet still had all the advantages of being part of a couple. I am not surprised you are in trouble.

A few questions for you, not necessarily to answer here, but I think will help you see how others see it.

1) If I knocked on the door of your neighbours, would they say you were a couple (public perception)
2) Do you eat/shop/do things together (Living as husband and wife)
3) Does the children think you live together?
4) Where did he put his birthday cards up? (Living as a family)
5) What mail goes to your address about him? (Financial relationships) (also credit refs agencies)
6) Where did he sleep?
7) where did he live to the insurance co/GP/etc?

Just a mix there, but the type of questions you may need to think about.


D70

Mclark_2

Roger black thanks lots for your reply. I have a child from a previous relationship back in 2009 but he has always been brought up by my partner.
He did stay with his parents the whole time and yea did stay over during the week twice a week. He worked taxis at the weekend to be able to pay rent to stay at his mum and dads plus repayment of his debt! The only thing we had together was a bank account t which he joined to my account in January this year as we thought because I didn't have a year in books for my self employment that a broker might think better of us having a joint account to show some kind of a link. Could this have flagged up?

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Nearly every claim where we discover an undeclared partner the partner has "only just moved in" and the claimant "has forgotten to inform the benefits department".

I genuinely believe that the partner only moved in 2 weeks ago and she forgot to inform anyone and this is just a coincidence that this is about the time the fraud guys contacted the claimant.

Most fraud investigation may have commenced many many months ago and they would only contact the claimant once they have all their evidence. They may have conducted covert surveillance and got written statements from your neighbours.

Mclark_2

So what can I do as evidence/proof to support myself?

FluffyDuck3

Mclark wrote: »

So what can I do as evidence/proof to support myself?

You're situation is unusual. You've linked yourself financially to someone you didn't live with at the time. You were in a relationship, lived together, then you lived a apart and then back together. But the financial link you've created overlaps with your time as a single parent.

I think you should take every scrap of proof you have to the interview.

bloolagoon

Mclark wrote: »

So what can I do as evidence/proof to support myself?

Only you can answer that as we don't you or your life.

Mclark_2

Ok well I have evidence in the following

*Landlord was aware of my situation when she took me on and when *I informed her of when my partner moved in
*His parents have written letter of when he stayed until and confirmed his rent
*I have proof of going to the mortgage advisor for when we were hoping to buy a house for out fresh start
*Statements and bills going to his parents residence
*Receipt of removal van on the 2nd of May

If anyone else could help me with ideas on proof that would be so much appreciated. I know exactly how it looks which is why I'm so terrified if I had something to hide I wouldn't of got a bank account with him I genuinely thought it would look good to a broker