advice on benefit sanctions/fraud please

laura678

Hi


I don't post very often, but I would be so very grateful for some advice. Basically, my daughter has got herself into a big mess and I'm not sure how I can continue to help. She also has a young daughter who has disabilities.


Quite a long story, she has had an off relationship with the father of the child, who has lived with her on and off for a couple of years. However, what we didn't know was that she was living with her partner since February of this year again (she kept it from us)she was claiming all the benefits as a single parent, plus DLA for her daughter and now she is under investigation for benefit fraud, whilst he was claiming ESA, she now has benefit sanctions and her partner has now walked out. The problem is we have just helped her with bailiffs, hundreds of pounds and we have nothing left. She is left without benefits or anything to live on as from this week, as I cannot continue to upkeep 2 houses. Is it likely that she will be prosecuted for benefit fraud, if so is she likely to get a prison sentence? She is left several months with benefit sanction and nothing to live on, I will help as much as possible there is only so far wages will stretch. Please can anyone advise on where we can go from here?

pmlindyloo

Your daughter needs professional advice.

I suggest that she visits CAB in the first instance - choose one with a benefits specialist.

If she needs a solicitor then, at the very least, they should be able to direct her to where she can receive help.

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/benefits_e/benefits_benefits_introduction_ew/benefits_problems_with_benefits_and_tax_credits_e/benefit_fraud.htm

laura678

Thank you, we are planning to go the CAB regarding all the debt she has got herself in. I just don't know how I can continue to support her and my grand daughter financially, it is just not possible to do this for months on end, if she moves back home she will lose her home too. I was thinking as a last resort social services helping.

notanewuser

How do you think SS could/would help?

If she can't afford her home she'll have to move.

laura678

I really don't know how social services would help. I'm just at a loss as what to do about the whole situation, it is such a mess. If she were on her own without a child, I would tell her to go get a job, but the reality is that its not possible with having a small child with such special needs. I do not want to leave them without money to live on, but our wages won't stretch far enough to upkeep 2 homes.

notanewuser

laura678 wrote: »

I really don't know how social services would help. I'm just at a loss as what to do about the whole situation, it is such a mess. If she were on her own without a child, I would tell her to go get a job, but the reality is that its not possible with having a small child with such special needs. I do not want to leave them without money to live on, but our wages won't stretch far enough to upkeep 2 homes.

Can't they move in with you then?

laura678

I have told her she would have to move back home because I cannot afford to keep 2 houses going. But she has already declined the offer, mainly because she will lose her home and secondly because our house is very small. I have a teenager at college and 2 younger ones.

notanewuser

Then she's going to have to work something out for herself. She can't have it both ways and it's her mess to sort out!

If she doesn't pay her rent she'll be evicted anyway. How old is she/the child?

laura678

Your right about it being her mess. But I am concerned for my grand daughter, if my daughter has nothing to live on for months on end, then my grand daughter is going to be going without even the bare essentials. I have considered the option that if my daughter continues to refuse my offer of moving back home, then I should have my grand daughter to live with me until she sorts her mess out.

laura678

My grand daughter is 2 years old.

pmlindyloo

Since her ex was getting ESA she should have been added to his claim which would have made it income based ESA and therefore they would have still have been entitled to HB and CT reduction, CB, Child tax credits.

Whether this will make any difference I just don't know which is why she needs professional advice.

I don't know how old your daughter is and I do understand how concerned you are. From what you are saying - her debt, your bailing her out - it seems that your daughter needs a great deal of help in managing her affairs. Because your grandchild is receiving DLA then I am assuming that she has some special needs and hence your mentioning social services.

There seems to be multiple problems here but in the end you cannot force your daughter to accept help and can only steer her in the right direction.

If you have concerns about your grand child then social services might be a sensible option.