being accused!!

loulout

Long story short, my ex-neighbour (and former friend) has told me she is reporting me for benefit fraud. Which I am NOT committing!!!!

Basically I split with my husband in Jan 2016. He moved out the end of that month. The house we were living in was owned by him in his name only. He agreed I could stay living there until he sold it as I have our 2 young children. I started claiming child tax credit and income support. He continued to pay the mortgage (instead of child maintenance) but all the bills were in my name paid by me from my bank.

The house was sold and I moved to a rented property, started claiming housing benefit. The tenancy is in my name only and the bills are in my name.

I am worried because I don't want people watching my house or talking to my daughter's school (it's very posh and cliquey, gossip spreads easily!!).

The ex-neighbour is an absolute evil mare, one of the reasons we split as the stress she caused was too much. She won't leave me alone, she basically admitted she was reporting me for "fraud" because I refused to talk to her!!!!

Thing is it won't look very good because we have joint accounts (not used, but in debt so can't be closed) and joint debts.

We use our own bank accounts, I pay my bills from mine. He pays me child maintenance. He works full time.

We do get along quite well, he visits my house to see his children, and hopefully one day we might reconcile, but at the moment there's too much anger and hurt. Any more stress and I don't think I can take it!!!

I don't have any proof of where he lives (he stays between friends and has confessed he sometimes sleeps in his van, though I wonder if that's true or just for sympathy).. His van is a company van with company insurance, so not registered to a home address. He has no car. He doesn't get any mail ever (banks online) so has no address on his mail. As far as I know, all his mail is registered at the old house which we sold, though as he never gets any, it hasn't mattered.

When we sold the house he gave me 12k of which I had to pay 6 for upfront rent. He has about 40k which we agreed he keep as the joint debt is over 30k anyway and I took the car and all the belongings. As far as I know he still has the 40k though I've not asked. I know he is looking to buy or rent a place in the immediate future. He works full time but I know he also pays his friends/family for staying there, though I don't know how much.

I know I am innocent and stressing for no reason, I just don't know what I can do to prove my innocence, I feel like I am being watched! I also want to move to a bigger rented place but I can't because he is the only person who could be my guarantor.

I'm thinking I should report her for threatening me but it might stir the pot.

Guest101

It does sound like you're committing fraud.


He has £40,000 but sleeps in a works van....

marliepanda

If you haven't done anything wrong then they can't find you've done anything wrong.

Did you declare the 12k from the house sale?

They will scrutinise all the money from the house sale and look into things.

But as I said, if it's all above board you'll be fine...

FBaby

So she is reporting you because she believes that you are a couple but ticking all the boxes so you can't be linked financially?

To be fair, sleeping in his van/sofa hopping doesn't make much sense when you work FT and have £40K in your pocket. A year is a long time to wait before looking for somewhere to rent. Does he ever stay at yours overnight?

Why are you making such a big deal of it if you are confident you haven't tried to hide anything? Wait to see if you are being contacted, and explain things as they are. If you are not a couple, and therefore not behaving as one, then what do you have to worry about?

FBaby

By the way, I assume you were never claiming IS whilst working?

Caz3121

loulout wrote: »

hopefully one day we might reconcile

It does sound like you should have a joint claim
have a read here http://revenuebenefits.org.uk/tax-credits/guidance/how-do-tax-credits-work/understanding-living-together/
assuming you have not gone through a legal separation

NYM

loulout wrote: »

Long story short, my ex-neighbour (and former friend) has told me she is reporting me for benefit fraud. Which I am NOT committing!!!!

Basically I split with my husband in Jan 2016. He moved out the end of that month. The house we were living in was owned by him in his name only. He agreed I could stay living there until he sold it as I have our 2 young children. I started claiming child tax credit and income support. He continued to pay the mortgage (instead of child maintenance) but all the bills were in my name paid by me from my bank.

The house was sold and I moved to a rented property, started claiming housing benefit. The tenancy is in my name only and the bills are in my name.

I am worried because I don't want people watching my house or talking to my daughter's school (it's very posh and cliquey, gossip spreads easily!!).

The ex-neighbour is an absolute evil mare, one of the reasons we split as the stress she caused was too much. She won't leave me alone, she basically admitted she was reporting me for "fraud" because I refused to talk to her!!!!

Thing is it won't look very good because we have joint accounts (not used, but in debt so can't be closed) and joint debts.

We use our own bank accounts, I pay my bills from mine. He pays me child maintenance. He works full time.

We do get along quite well, he visits my house to see his children, and hopefully one day we might reconcile, but at the moment there's too much anger and hurt. Any more stress and I don't think I can take it!!!

I don't have any proof of where he lives (he stays between friends and has confessed he sometimes sleeps in his van, though I wonder if that's true or just for sympathy).. His van is a company van with company insurance, so not registered to a home address. He has no car. He doesn't get any mail ever (banks online) so has no address on his mail. As far as I know, all his mail is registered at the old house which we sold, though as he never gets any, it hasn't mattered.

When we sold the house he gave me 12k of which I had to pay 6 for upfront rent. He has about 40k which we agreed he keep as the joint debt is over 30k anyway and I took the car and all the belongings. As far as I know he still has the 40k though I've not asked. I know he is looking to buy or rent a place in the immediate future. He works full time but I know he also pays his friends/family for staying there, though I don't know how much.

I know I am innocent and stressing for no reason, I just don't know what I can do to prove my innocence, I feel like I am being watched! I also want to move to a bigger rented place but I can't because he is the only person who could be my guarantor.

I'm thinking I should report her for threatening me but it might stir the pot.

Have you formally separated/divorced ? If you have, then in theory it doesn't really matter what your ex neighbour wants to report.

It may not just be the HB that could be withdrawn. Tax Credits may be interested in your true situation.

As for the last part of your post. Your ex is unlikely to be accepted as a Guarantor. He has no fixed address and you've said his credit is poor.

swingaloo

You cant close bank accounts which link you together because they have debts which are in the region of £30.000.

Yet he is sleeping in a van with £40.000 in his back pocket.

Something is not right here.

Aced2016

I think your worried because deep down you know you have done wrong ! You have lots of information and the bit about he doesn't have anywhere to live etc is strange.

This is why it's never worth it, always messes up in the end. If I'm wrong I fully apologise !

If I'm right I would put a stop to it straight away. Claim only what you are entitled to legally, that way you can sleep at night and not worrying about being watched etc. I would far rather peace of mind than money.

However if you have done nothing wrong you have nothing to worry about!

TELLIT01

The OP has said that her ex has £40k so if they have separated that is of absolutely no consequence. The OP is certainly not committing fraud simply because a former partner has money.
There is no requirement to be 'formally separated', whatever that may mean. For benefit purposes, a belief that the separation is likely to be permanent is enough. A vague hope that they might get back together at some unknown date in the future won't affect that decision.
There will be questions about the joint bank accounts and the OP may need to show that she is not benefitting financially from that/those accounts.
Taking what the OP has posted at face value I can see nothing which indicates or suggests that fraud has been attempted or committed.

marliepanda

TELLIT01 wrote: »

The OP has said that her ex has £40k so if they have separated that is of absolutely no consequence. The OP is certainly not committing fraud simply because a former partner has money.
There is no requirement to be 'formally separated', whatever that may mean. For benefit purposes, a belief that the separation is likely to be permanent is enough. A vague hope that they might get back together at some unknown date in the future won't affect that decision.
There will be questions about the joint bank accounts and the OP may need to show that she is not benefitting financially from that/those accounts.
Taking what the OP has posted at face value I can see nothing which indicates or suggests that fraud has been attempted or committed.

They sold the house and he kept the lions share? What happened to her half of the equity?

What did the divorce state would happen to the house?