ESA - Jobcentre Plus want to do a Customer Benefit Review

back2square1

My wife is in the Support Group for ESA and has received a letter from Job Centre Plus stating they need to interview to reassess the ESA she is receiving (only had it since September 2014). They want to check for any changes and see 3 months of bank statements for all of our accounts.

I've managed to get this changed to a home interview because for reasons why she's in support group means she cannot attend Job Centre easily. Anyway, I've been told if she doesn't allow them to reassess her claim then they will stop paying.

Can they do this?

She is feeling very threatened by them, her mental health has deteriorated dramatically and she's been in a right state ever since they sent the letter. I hate how they make her feel like a fraudulent claimer and they'll go to any lengths to stop paying. It's as if they are bullying her whenever shes spoken to them.

We don't mind them seeing bank statements because we've got no big savings accounts (I wish!!). But I don't like the fact that they said they have got a lot of questions they need answering to check my wife is on the right benefit.

This is going to be happening to all claimants of ESA support group, it is not because anyone has maliciously reported her for benefit fraud.

Blindsided_2

The same thing happened to my brother, he had been placed in the support group and 10 weeks later was reassessed and put in the work group (sorry don't remember exact name) he wasn't asked to provide bank statements though, so I can't help there? Is there a possibility you ar over savings limits? Can't think why they would want bank statements otherwise

back2square1

Hi, no we have got no savings, in fact we are in debt and struggling to make ends meet. My wife also receives PIP and doesn't get any problems with them.
Apparently Job Centre Plus are going to be doing Customer Benefit Reviews to everyone claiming ESA in Support Group. I've told them my wife's health has not changed and if anything her mental health has worsened especially now they are wishing to assess she is on the right benefits again.

tomtontom

This is nothing to be concerned about, it's a standard compliance review. There is no suggestion she is claiming fraudulently. Perhaps you could reassure her of this rather than feeding her anxiety?

tomtontom

back2square1 wrote: »

Hi I have tried looking on here for benefits advice but my head is in a mess and I'm not sure what applies to my situation.

My husband and myself split yesterday after his gambling addiction became too much. He has put us into £60k debt, stole my children's money, emptied savings account, etc. He earns £100k a year but most months he spends all his wage on gambling and nothing left. He has stole my wages too. He may be losing his job as he has a warning and could be reported for fraud which means instant dismissal because he works in banking.

I have got two sons (aged 2yrs and 6months). I am self-employed, can work anything between 16-30hrs a week. I have a 3 bed semi house with mortgage (£950 a month, owe £165000).

What am I best to do financially?

I realise there are different rates of Working Tax Credit you can receive and I am in a position where I can change my hours accordingly.

I don't think I will receive maintenance from my husband as he is very likely to become unemployed any day now.

Poor woman - we'd all be stressed out if our husbands had gambled away our savings

dodger1

tomtontom wrote: »

Poor woman - we'd all be stressed out if our husbands had gambled away our savings

Just subscribed to this thread, could get interesting

oldhand

OOOppps.............;);)

Cheeky_Monkey

tomtontom wrote: »

Poor woman - we'd all be stressed out if our husbands had gambled away our savings

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: Busted!!!!

helping_hand2014

once again it goes off the original topic of the thread

back2square1

Oh my you gave me a shock there! After a long chat with my wife it would seem it's her sister who posted that using our computer a while back when she was staying here (understandably).
My wife showed her this website and the forums because she clearly needed help. I can report my sister in law filed for divorce last October and her ex husband is paying off his debts. I don't know much more than that.

back2square1

Ha I can see why you'd think this was hypocritical, never mind. We are no way in that sort of debt, thank god!! Just overdrafts being used and £2500 on a credit card as I'm self employed as a tiler and if contractors don't pay me in time then I end up getting in trouble but hoping by March we will be all caught up and back in the black.