Home Visit -We are reviewing your Benefit claim

donnalou

I have just recieved this letter regarding an home visit to review my benefit claim.
Even though the Goverment websites says that it could be random I'm sure it's not.

I certainly haven't been commiting fraud so I don't think that it could be that the only thing that I could think of is my Mum died in November so I dealt with all her finances. She didn't have a great deal of Money £5000 in her bank account and £3800 life insurance but by the time the funeral was paid for and other bits and pieces settled we we were left with about £3000 split between my brother and I. I'm just wondering if this would raise a red flag and do I need to go through everything and find all the receipts?

Is there a certain amount that you can inherit before it affects your benefits? As it is just my brother and I we sorted things out amongst ourselves and whatever was left we decided to split. My brother lives 350 miles away so most of it was down to me including clearing my Mums house out which was an 80 mile trip every day for nearly 3 weeks, my car needed a service and new tyres so that was about £500 that came out of the money before we split it. I'm just concerned that they may think that is a deprivation of assets or is it such a small amount they wouldn't worry?

Any advice would be gratefully appreciated
Many thanks

pmlindyloo

What benefits are you claiming?

donnalou

Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Income Support, Child Tax Credit, Child Benefit.
I have 2 children aged 2 and 5

pmlindyloo

I presume you are a single mum then if you are claiming Income Support?

It is interesting that this is a home visit. I have to say that the majority of these checks are about claiming as a single person when they have 'evidence' that you are linked to another person.

May be totally wrong and it is a simple, random check.

I do not see that they would even know that your mum had passed away unless probate had been applied for and, again, I am presuming that it wasn't as the amounts were small and there was no property involved.

Does the children's dad visit/stay over? Are all your finances separate?

Apologies if I am on the wrong path. If there is nothing that you can think of then just wait and see what is said at the meeting.

dippy3103

Sounds to me like a random check. Compliance officers don't do many home visits.

donnalou

Thanks for the reply,
Yes I'm a single Mum and they don't see their Dad for months on end and he doesn't pay hardly any money and yes our finances are separate.

I am quite pleased that it is a home check as I hate going to the Job Centre and I have nothing to hide My Mum dying is on my details at the Job Centre because I has to cancel an appointent as I had my Mum staying with me and I couldn't leave her, but I'm sure that is just on my notes. although my Mum was entitled to Heating Allowance that should have been paid to me but I haven't had it yet so our names are linked at the DWP.

TELLIT01

You say you have a child of 5, it's entirely possible that just that may be an indicator for a check to be done as your IS entitlement changed when the child reached 5. Random checks do also happen. It's nothing to worry about. The money from your mother's estate isn't enough to affect benefit, but they may ask for details of the amount and the way it was divided up.

pmlindyloo

OK, so it could possibly be to do with your mum dying.

You are allowed up to £6000 in savings when claiming IS. Over £6000 and there is a deduction of £1 for every £250 over the £6k up to £16000. Over £16K and no entitlement.

I presume the letter asked about bank statements etc.? If your inheritance took you over the £6k then you should have reported it.

The things that you have spent money on would not be considered to be deprivation of capital.

You may need proof about what your mum actually left so her bank statements/life insurance letter may be needed, funeral expenses etc. I wouldn't produce them unless asked but just look them out in case they are needed.

If you haven't got them and you are asked for them you will just have to say that you will get copies and forward them.

No good getting stressed about it. Just wait and see what it is about.

pmlindyloo

TELLIT01 wrote: »

You say you have a child of 5, it's entirely possible that just that may be an indicator for a check to be done as your IS entitlement changed when the child reached 5. Random checks do also happen. It's nothing to worry about. The money from your mother's estate isn't enough to affect benefit, but they may ask for details of the amount and the way it was divided up.

OP also has a child of 2 but is already having interviews at JCP about 'preparing for work'.

donnalou

pmlindyloo wrote: »

OP also has a child of 2 but is already having interviews at JCP about 'preparing for work'.

Oh yes, we split up just before her first birthday and she is now 2 1/2 I have had mandatory appointments every 6 months and then inbetween nonmandatory,so basically every 3 months.

t0rt0ise

It will be a random check. They will ask if you get money from the children's father. They may ask to use the loo and will look there to see if any evidence that anyone else is living with you. You are supposed to keep records of winding up someone's estate for six years so gather together everything about your mother's money and the expenses and keep it safe.