Interview under caution am really scared!

TheHoneyMonster

I'm claiming income support, housing and council tax benefit, child tax credits and I get child benefit for my 3 girls who are 2 and 6. I have to go to an interview under caution and I am really scared because I do not know what for. I am terrified I have done something wrong. People keep telling me being interviewed under caution is because i've committed fraud but I am certain I have done nothing wrong!!!!!!!!!

i'm a single mum, with 3 girls, the youngest are 2 and my eldest is 6. I am 22 and am not with there dad in a relationship anymore. We separated before the youngest was born although he does see them several times in the week and occasionally stays over since he works locally but lives 30 miles away, we are not in a relationship, he sleeps on the sofa when he stays, last week it was for two nights. He contributes to the upbringing of the girls by occasionally giving me an income of £100 and he often just buys the girls things that they need. I don't work, but do sometimes look after another child in the evenings whilst her mum is out working, she does not pay me cash, she gives me avon gifts for helping out. I need some advice I don't know what to do.

bspm

TheHoneyMonster wrote: »

I'm claiming income support, housing and council tax benefit, child tax credits and I get child benefit for my 3 girls who are 2 and 6. I have to go to an interview under caution and I am really scared because I do not know what for. I am terrified I have done something wrong. People keep telling me being interviewed under caution is because i've committed fraud but I am certain I have done nothing wrong!!!!!!!!!

i'm a single mum, with 3 girls, the youngest are 2 and my eldest is 6. I am 22 and am not with there dad in a relationship anymore. We separated before the youngest was born although he does see them several times in the week and occasionally stays over since he works locally but lives 30 miles away, we are not in a relationship, he sleeps on the sofa when he stays, last week it was for two nights. He contributes to the upbringing of the girls by occasionally giving me an income of £100 and he often just buys the girls things that they need. I don't work, but do sometimes look after another child in the evenings whilst her mum is out working, she does not pay me cash, she gives me avon gifts for helping out. I need some advice I don't know what to do.

Maybe a neighbour has seen your ex stay over a couple of nights a week, if he also sees them several times a week that's a lot if you don't live together.

As for what you can do? you have to go to the interview under caution, nothing you do now will change why they want to see you.

TheHoneyMonster

bspm wrote: »

Maybe a neighbour has seen your ex stay over a couple of nights a week, if he also sees them several times a week that's a lot if you don't live together.

As for what you can do? you have to go to the interview under caution, nothing you do now will change why they want to see you.

So someone could have reported me for fraud. F loves his kids which is why he sees them so much, he never got over me leaving him but I realised I didn't love him and despite trying I just couldn't. Does it make any difference if I am in an early days relationship with someone else. I've been seeing T on and off for 6 months, we are not a couple but she stays over once a week.

Bogalot

There's no good reason for your ex to be stopping over if he's only thirty miles away. He'd have to go home if he was not seeing the children, so he needs to start going home now. Also look at getting more regular/ formal CS payments in place.

Your friend is giving you goods in exchange for you providing a service, that's just the same as receiving cash for work. You can earn up to £20 without it affecting your benefits, you need to be declaring this.

Have you looked at getting into education and/ or employment? You can claim some help with childcare. The Jobcentre can refer you to an organisation that can help you with this.

esuhl

A quick google brought this up, which looks like it might be helpful:
http://www.advicenow.org.uk/guides/how-deal-interview-under-caution

I'd do as much research as you can to find out about your rights. Would it make sense to give a "no comment" interview to find out what their suspicions are without giving them any extra information, or would this count against you...? Forewarned is forearmed.

I just found this on the Oldham Council website (I assume it's a similar process elsewhere):

You can have a solicitor or legal advisor with you. You can appoint a solicitor or legal advisor yourself or your local Citizens Advice Bureau may be able to help you to do this

I'd definitely look into getting legal representation. I don't know if there would be free/charitable help available, but it would be worth looking into.

http://www.oldham.gov.uk/info/200186/benefit_fraud/823/interview_under_caution

Alice_Holt

This guide may be helpful:
http://www.advicenow.org.uk/guides/how-deal-interview-under-caution

Edit: Posted at same time as esuhl

Bogalot

esuhl wrote: »

Would it make sense to give a "no comment" interview to find out what their suspicions are without giving them any extra information, or would this count against you...? Forewarned is forearmed.

Not unless you want to look guilty when you're not, no.

A no comment interview will result in the DWP making a decision based solely on the information they have, which is if they have evidence of him regularly staying over, is unlikely to go in her favour. It's far better to be upfront and honest.

TheHoneyMonster

Bogalot wrote: »

There's no good reason for your ex to be stopping over if he's only thirty miles away. He'd have to go home if he was not seeing the children, so he needs to start going home now. Also look at getting more regular/ formal CS payments in place.

Your friend is giving you goods in exchange for you providing a service, that's just the same as receiving cash for work. You can earn up to £20 without it affecting your benefits, you need to be declaring this.

Have you looked at getting into education and/ or employment? You can claim some help with childcare. The Jobcentre can refer you to an organisation that can help you with this.

He's been staying more as his mums near me as she's dying of a brain tumour, she's not got very long left, perhaps a matter of weeks now.

I am currently doing my GCSE'S in English and Maths on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, my twins stay in the college nursery when I'm in class. My main goal then is to go onto an Access Course to get into university. I also do voluntary work twice a week and my mum has my girls then.

I didn't know my friend or I was doing anything wrong with her giving me Avon things. I sometimes sell on eBay, only the clothes my girls have grown out of, do I need to declare this.

TELLIT01

Your best route is to simply answer the questions you are asked honestly. You don't need to offer additional information, over and above answering the questions. It's entirely possible that you have been reported over potential benefit fraud, and that DWP's own investigations have thrown up enough doubt for them to want to find out more.
If your ex has been seen at your address a lot, as it seems is the case, it's not surprising that it has started alarm bells ringing. If the situation is as you have described you have little to worry about.

McKneff

Just go and tell the truth. Whatever it is, they cant jail you or hang you for it .

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

esuhl

Bogalot wrote: »

Not unless you want to look guilty when you're not, no.

A no comment interview will result in the DWP making a decision based solely on the information they have, which is if they have evidence of him regularly staying over, is unlikely to go in her favour. It's far better to be upfront and honest.

Well... it doesn't really matter how guilty you look, the question is do they have grounds to prosecute/fine with the information they've already got...?

I'm definitely not a lawyer, and have never had any legal problems, so I honestly wouldn't know the best way to approach the interview. Just voicing some random thoughts I had.

TheHoneyMonster wrote: »

I didn't know my friend or I was doing anything wrong with her giving me Avon things.

Are you doing something wrong? How did you find out?

Even if this is considered "paid employment", do you only need to declare it if you're earning more than a certain amount, or working more than a certain number of hours...? Is it possible your arrangement is within some kind of minimal limit...?

TheHoneyMonster wrote: »

I sometimes sell on eBay, only the clothes my girls have grown out of, do I need to declare this.

For income tax purposes, you only need to report profits you've made in the course of a business (i.e. by buying them with the intention to sell on). Anything you've used yourself and are selling as you no longer need it doesn't need to be declared. I don't know if that's different with benefit-related declarations.

(Sorry -- I don't know much at all! Just trying to help by prompting you with a few questions to consider!)