advice on benefit sanctions/fraud please

laura678

Her partner was claiming ESA and I had always told them if they're together then they should claim together. But he was always leaving because they always argued. I knew nothing about him being there since February, and once the letter came through saying she was under investigation for benefit fraud, they decided to make a joint claim for ESA, but he has since left. He has also now had his money stopped because he couldn't be bothered to go to the job centre. My grand daughter has multiple problems which is why the DLA was being claimed, but this has also been sanctioned as well child tax and income support because of the investigation. Thank you for your advice, I will talk to her again and see if we can come up with a solution.

RAS

Hi laura

There are a number of things to think about.

Check whether she can apply for hardship payments re the sanctions. Also find out if there is a food bank near by.

If she has not already done so, put in a new claim as a single person with one child re Income Support, Housing and Council tax discount and CTB.

I would suggest CAB immediately and then CAP as CAP offer a budgetting service.

I think you also need to ask where all this money have been going as plainly it has not supported the family if they have been in all the debt you mention. Are either of them taking drugs or gambling?

laura678

Thank you very much, I will have a look and see whether she could be entitled to hardship payment etc.


As for the amount of money they had, they had more in a week on benefits, than we were earning. I did find out recently that the money was being spent on meals in pubs, smoking weed and drinking! There is part of me that just wants to scoop up my grand daughter and bring her home with me..

pmlindyloo

laura678 wrote: »

Her partner was claiming ESA and I had always told them if they're together then they should claim together. But he was always leaving because they always argued. I knew nothing about him being there since February, and once the letter came through saying she was under investigation for benefit fraud, they decided to make a joint claim for ESA, but he has since left. He has also now had his money stopped because he couldn't be bothered to go to the job centre. My grand daughter has multiple problems which is why the DLA was being claimed, but this has also been sanctioned as well child tax and income support because of the investigation. Thank you for your advice, I will talk to her again and see if we can come up with a solution.

I do not believe that DLA can be sanctioned in these circumstances.

I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong.

RAS

laura678 wrote: »

As for the amount of money they had, they had more in a week on benefits, than we were earning. I did find out recently that the money was being spent on meals in pubs, smoking weed and drinking!

I assume the appropriate rocket has been applied?

I also assume that the reason for not telling you in February might be that she knows you do not approve?

GwylimT

pmlindyloo wrote: »

I do not believe that DLA can be sanctioned in these circumstances.

I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong.

My youngest receives DLA, if we committed/were investigated for benefit fraud his DLA couldn't be stopped, just as child benefit can't be until they have proved you don't have a child.

RAS

GwylimT wrote: »

My youngest receives DLA, if we committed/were investigated for benefit fraud his DLA couldn't be stopped, just as child benefit can't be until they have proved you don't have a child.

So at the very least she has DLA and CB coming in?

laura678

Apparently they can sanction everything, which means she is just left with £20 a week of child benefit. This is because for some reason she claimed DLA as a single parent as well. I do not understand why she needed to be so greedy, they were on plenty of money, it was not through desperation.


Yes, I think she didn't tell me because she knows I most certainly wouldn't approve because he has done nothing to support his family and doesn't want a job! I am growing very tired of picking up the pieces and concerned that my grand daughter is missing out on so much. I am worried about moving her back home because she used to be violent towards me when she didn't get her own way and I just don't think I could go through that with the children again.

GwylimT

There is no such thing as claiming DLA as a single parent, the number of adults in a household has absolutely no effect on DLA.

elsien

DLA isn't means tested, so shouldn't be affected by any other benefits.


Are you sure she's telling you the whole truth, or might she be exaggerating in the hope you'll help out more financially?