Anonymous tip-off - how anonymous is it??

Sea_Shell

Is it the Local Authority who deal with Housing Benefit??

Which are the other "means tested" benefits?

kingfisherblue

I receive Carer's Allowance and Income Support. A few years ago, within months of each other, I was called in for two complainace interviews.

The first was because it stated on my file that I was working. I was doing voluntary work (Brownie leader) and had asked before claiming IS if I was allowed to carry on with volunteering. The answer was yes, if I didn't get paid. I had to supply a letter from my Division Commissioner to say that it is purely voluntary. At the compliance interview, the DWP officer said that she couldn't believe that I had been called in about a voluntary position (and it was clearly marked 'voluntary'), and apologised. We then had a short chat about how she enjoyed being a Brownie when she was younger.

The second time was an anonymous tip off that I was 'creaming off' the system (a phrase that I had apparantly used on the school playground, but a phrase that I would never use). I was able to prove that I wasn't scamming the system (I was accused of getting more payments than I was entitled to and somehow taking them off someone else - a mum at school who looked after my son for two hours a week). The tip off said that I had discussed with the school mum, on the playground, how I was scamming her and the DWP. Now, apart from the fact that my children (juniors at the time) were on a different playground to her children (infants at the time), I wouldn't have been stupid enough to tell someone that I was scamming them - if I even knew how to! I offered to provide bank and Post Office statements, but was told not to worry as it was obvious that I was doing no wrong. The school mum was also interviewed adn she had done nothing either, but had been reported anonymously as scamming money from me. the case was closed.

rockingbilly

Housing_Benefit_Officer wrote: »

We never reveal where we got the information. We never reveal the investigation was as a result of a tip off. We have to gather evidence from surveillance, bank statements and then interview the claimant to discuss any discrepancies.

Thankfully then that the local authorities take these 'tip off's' more seriously than the DWP do.

I reported (with my full name and address) someone a few years ago. It was clear to me that the individual concerned was not as disabled as he had made out in order secure the higher rate of mobility DLA.
The neighbour concerned mentioned to me weeks later that the DWP were to send out a 'doctor' to review his DLA claim. This review, according to my neighbour lasted all of 10 mins. They were satisfied that based on the fact that he had a pacemaker fitted and the drugs he was on entitled him to the DLA award.
He curtailed his golfing trips of 3 days a week after the visit!
I was so surprised that no investigation was carried out. All it required was video evidence of him playing 18 holes 3 times a week to show that he could walk more than 50 metres!

dippy3103

rockingbilly wrote: »

Thankfully then that the local authorities take these 'tip off's' more seriously than the DWP do.

I reported (with my full name and address) someone a few years ago. It was clear to me that the individual concerned was not as disabled as he had made out in order secure the higher rate of mobility DLA.
The neighbour concerned mentioned to me weeks later that the DWP were to send out a 'doctor' to review his DLA claim. This review, according to my neighbour lasted all of 10 mins. They were satisfied that based on the fact that he had a pacemaker fitted and the drugs he was on entitled him to the DLA award.
He curtailed his golfing trips of 3 days a week after the visit!
I was so surprised that no investigation was carried out. All it required was video evidence of him playing 18 holes 3 times a week to show that he could walk more than 50 metres!

DWP now investigate all benefit fraud, including housing benefit.

To get authorisation under RIPA for surveillance the DWP will have had to do a lot of justification. It's possible it did happen and you just don't know- that's the idea of covert surveillance. That it's discreet

littlerock

I looked up reporting a relative of OH for Tax fraud (not declaring part ownership of business and cash payments) while her husband was claiming she did not work and he was getting Pension Credit for both. The form wanted a lot of information from me and wanted to know if I would be prepared to testify in court.

A few years back I reported an illegal housing extension by my neighbour which overshadowed several local houses including mine. The council agreed it was illegal but said if I wanted them to investigate, they would reveal my identity to the neighbour. They too the view if I wanted to complain I should be prepared to reveal my identity,

Gareth56

Housing_Benefit_Officer wrote: »

We never reveal where we got the information. We never reveal the investigation was as a result of a tip off. We have to gather evidence from surveillance, bank statements and then interview the claimant to discuss any discrepancies.

If at the end of your investigations you conclude that the "tip-off" was malicious is any compensation offered to the people you have investigated and maybe put through stress and worry?

rockingbilly

dippy3103 wrote: »

DWP now investigate all benefit fraud, including housing benefit.

To get authorisation under RIPA for surveillance the DWP will have had to do a lot of justification. It's possible it did happen and you just don't know- that's the idea of covert surveillance. That it's discreet

Any sort of surveillance would have thrown up the fact that the person concerned walked round an 18 hole golf course three times a week every week pulling his clubs. I've only been round a 9 hole course before I became ill and that was a marathon - so I can imagine what goes on for an 18 hole course.
Still the DWP did take notice but in so far as to ask him if he still had problems walking, and what medication he was on. Based on those answers they ignored the complaint.
Mind you it did work to some extent - he was rattled enough to stop his golfing trips and stayed at home instead. - some good came out of it.

Glen_Clark

I can tell you the biggest housing benefit scam of all. The Royal Apartments. Palatial apartments in prime locations that supposedly belong to we the taxpayer, let out to royal hangers on for token rents like a pound a year.
Do you think the DWP would investigate them?

ctbfc

rockingbilly wrote: »

Thankfully then that the local authorities take these 'tip off's' more seriously than the DWP do.

I reported (with my full name and address) someone a few years ago. It was clear to me that the individual concerned was not as disabled as he had made out in order secure the higher rate of mobility DLA.
The neighbour concerned mentioned to me weeks later that the DWP were to send out a 'doctor' to review his DLA claim. This review, according to my neighbour lasted all of 10 mins. They were satisfied that based on the fact that he had a pacemaker fitted and the drugs he was on entitled him to the DLA award.
He curtailed his golfing trips of 3 days a week after the visit!
I was so surprised that no investigation was carried out. All it required was video evidence of him playing 18 holes 3 times a week to show that he could walk more than 50 metres!

I do wonder if the LA's (due to lack of resources) look at tip offs and then go only for the low hanging fruit. For example:

Single mother claiming housing benefit then her new boyfriend moves in. They are very careful not to leave a paper trail, he's not on the electoral register there, no bills in his name, no post and whatever else. In those circumstances it must be very difficult and resource heavy to build a case.

However if they looked in to a similar case and there was a paper trail/ bills/ post then I imagine it's easy pickings.

Glen_Clark

Savile wrote: »

And if you kick them off the jobless figures goes up

Are you sure about that?
I thought it was the other way round - If you kick them off JSA the jobless figures go down.