Benefit fraud

NYM

Worrying about it won't change what's already happened.
If you still have the money in your account, offer to repay it.

Bogalot

Soulful wrote: »

I didn't think to check my bank account I never do I hardly spent a penny, at the time I suffered from really bad depression and anxiety i still have it just not as bad as im still taking meds.

Even if they believe that, what about the letters you have received regarding your claim? At the very least you'll have had an uprating letter in April, an end of year tax statement (P60?), and if you qualify a Christmas bonus letter in December. Then there's anything relating to HB, SMI, and CTB if you were claiming them.

If you're going to claim you don't check your post, then you wouldn't know about the interview.

If this is a genuine mistake then just be honest with them. But your story needs to be consistent, as it stands it is not.

Soulful

Haven't had a medial letter for over 2yrs and never got a p60 or a December bonus I don't even know you could get a bonus.

Soulful

Also I don't have all the money I've had to pay bills and buy food etc,I have a bit saved tho.

[Deleted User]

Soulful wrote: »

I didn't think to check my bank account I never do I hardly spent a penny, at the time I suffered from really bad depression and anxiety i still have it just not as bad as im still taking meds.

Soulful wrote: »

Also I don't have all the money I've had to pay bills and buy food etc,I have a bit saved tho.

So you did spend more than a penny!

FBaby

Ummm, I think you are starting to come across not very convincingly here. If you have 'a bit' saved, then you made a conscious decision of what money you were putting aside.

So now you will need to convince them that:
- you didn't remember you had to cancel your claim
- you never got any letter relating to your claim in 18 months
- you never checked once your account and therefore didn't notice the payment
- but you put some of the money aside as savings.

I think you will struggle to justify it all and might as well go with your hands up and make repayment suggestions asap.

marliepanda

It doesn't make any sense that you didn't know about them money, so assumed you just had your Full time wage to spend, yet somehow spent a big chunk of 10grand?

How did you spend it if you didn't know you had it...

Your story does not make sense. I'd get it making sense quick.

Guest101

Soulful wrote: »

Also I don't have all the money I've had to pay bills and buy food etc,I have a bit saved tho.

Isnt that what your fulltime wage is for?

Faith177

FBaby wrote: »

Ummm, I think you are starting to come across not very convincingly here. If you have 'a bit' saved, then you made a conscious decision of what money you were putting aside.

So now you will need to convince them that:
- you didn't remember you had to cancel your claim
- you never got any letter relating to your claim in 18 months
- you never checked once your account and therefore didn't notice the payment
- but you put some of the money aside as savings.

I think you will struggle to justify it all and might as well go with your hands up and make repayment suggestions asap.

Plus not looked at your bank statements at all in that time

NYM

Soulful wrote: »

Also I don't have all the money I've had to pay bills and buy food etc,I have a bit saved tho.

I did have some sympathy for you after your initial post taking account of the reason you claimed ESA. However, you should have had a budget for rent/food/utilities from your salary and if you now claim that for the past 16 or so months you spent money you weren't aware of having, makes your claim seem less than honest.

I would wish you luck for the IUC but really, I think you deserve to be caught out.