Interview under caution for pension credit

dippy3103

Confess to what? On the face of it there is nothing to confess to.

dktreesea

The DWP want the OP's mother to confess to owning property elsewhere, so that they then don't have to prove their allegation.


I find this whole scenario quite Machiavellian. Why isn't there sufficient checks and restraints on DWP staff to prevent them going after someone in the way they have gone after the OP's mother?


They are the one's alleging that the OP's mother owns property elsewhere. Why have they not provided any proof?

xylophone

The DWP want the OP's mother to confess to owning property elsewhere, so that they then don't have to prove their allegation.

But if she doesn't own property and "confessed" that she does, she'd be telling a lie!

dktreesea

xylophone wrote: »

But if she doesn't own property and "confessed" that she does, she'd be telling a lie!

Quite, but they seem convinced she has property.


I think it's unfair that the DWP make whatever claims they want then it falls to the claimant to disprove them, rather than the DWP having to make the effort to prove their claims prior to inviting the claimant in. It is, after all, an under caution interview. Why are they able to do this without making the slightest effort to back up their allegations first?

dippy3103

dktreesea wrote: »

Quite, but they seem convinced she has property.


I think it's unfair that the DWP make whatever claims they want then it falls to the claimant to disprove them, rather than the DWP having to make the effort to prove their claims prior to inviting the claimant in. It is, after all, an under caution interview. Why are they able to do this without making the slightest effort to back up their allegations first?

If the claim is suspended they must have had something. I'm not suggesting that the o/p mum has done anything wrong, just that they had good reason to ask questions.

To the o/p- what are you waiting for them to do? Has it gone to a decision maker? If so, why?

hennesm

dktreesea wrote: »

If the DWP are alleging the OP's mother owns a house elsewhere, then why isn't it up to them to provide evidence of the same?


OP, if you can pay just 5 euros to get a certificate stating your mother owns no property in Ireland, I suggest you do so. You should also contact your mother's MP. This whole affair sounds to me like abuse of process. You should have had a copy of the interview by now. A transcript isn't enough - it won't convey the interviewers attitudes to you and your Mum for one. Request a copy of the recording and for goodness sake, get her MP involved.

Thank you . I provided a copy of the folio( land registration ) but it made little difference as I haven't heard anymore . I contacted the local MP Maria EAgle and have never receieved an acknowledgment . Think I might try the Watford MP. I thought they had to give you an update after 8 weeks but we have heard nothing . It s definitely an abuse of power and part of their bonus culture I think.

hennesm

dippy3103 wrote: »

If the claim is suspended they must have had something. I'm not suggesting that the o/p mum has done anything wrong, just that they had good reason to ask questions.

To the o/p- what are you waiting for them to do? Has it gone to a decision maker? If so, why?

It has gone to a decision maker. She was a little unclear as to why . She still insisted that mum had property in Ireland and then went onto the notifying the DWP when you go abroad . Mum wasn't aware of that rule and when she asked how long she could go abroad the lady said she didn't know and to look it up on the Internet ! I think they were convinced about the property and will now try and pursue the time abroad . I'm guessing but that seems the logical step. They said it would take 8 weeks as that is the target. In the meantime mum has vacated the flat and is staying on my cousins sofa in watford . She could not take the stress of rent and council tax plus she has £56 per week to live on now and it just wasn't viable. It does make you think how do people cope without a support network in these situations ? It's very worrying .
I wrote two weeks ago asking for an update and the Cd but have heard nothing . I'm reticent to write again as they were bad enough without antagonising them further

dktreesea

With the local MP, you have to make an appointment and then meet with her in the constituency office. This must be quite hard on you if you are based in Ireland and trying to manage all of this from there. It would be good to have the transcript and the CD, i.e. copies for her so she can hear the discrepancies.


Why does your Mum now only have £56 a week to live on? The Pension credit is meant to be enough to top up her income to £155.60 a week, (the minimum income guarantee) yet you say she only got £30 a week?
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/money-matters/claiming-benefits/pension-credit/what-is-pension-credit/


How about getting in touch with Age Concern or even the Citizen Advice Bureau? I think your Mum could do with some help from experts. It sounds like your Mum may not have been paid her full entitlement to start with.

dippy3103

dktreesea wrote: »

With the local MP, you have to make an appointment and then meet with her in the constituency office. This must be quite hard on you if you are based in Ireland and trying to manage all of this from there. It would be good to have the transcript and the CD, i.e. copies for her so she can hear the discrepancies.


Why does your Mum now only have £56 a week to live on? The Pension credit is meant to be enough to top up her income to £155.60 a week, (the minimum income guarantee) yet you say she only got £30 a week?
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/money-matters/claiming-benefits/pension-credit/what-is-pension-credit/


How about getting in touch with Age Concern or even the Citizen Advice Bureau? I think your Mum could do with some help from experts. It sounds like your Mum may not have been paid her full entitlement to start with.

Sounds to me as if pension credit has been suspended pending a decision, but the ops mum is still getting the state pension part of her income

hennesm

She has a private pension of£160 per month but that is tied up I a step change debt managment plan and she doesn't want to upset that as she can't take the stress. So she is left with her state pension of £56 per week . And yes the PC has been suspended pending the'decison maker' . She has heard nothing , still hasn't received written confirmation that it was suspended.
It is hard trying to organise from Ireland. I think you are right I will contact the CAB tomorrow.