DWP compliance interview.

John_peters_2

Hello,

My mother who claims ESA, housing benefits & PIP (enhanced rate) has just received a compliance interview titled “We’re reviewing your benefits and entitlement”. We phoned up the office immediately and they told us that an accusation has been made and they need to follow it up but to tell my mother that “not to worry”.

My mother suffered from high levels of anxiety & depression and has bouts of frequent psychosis moments. I live in the house with her as a non-dependant but am exempted for housing benefit due to PIP. When I’m at home I care for her a lot, when I’m at work she has a friend very often come and care for her and will take her out daily. This friend is neither a partner or a possible partner just a friend.

She only feels comfortable around myself or her friend, which is why she will go out with us but no one else.

The letter requires that my mother takes basic ID information and bank statements also. Her transactions at time are high, generally large cash withdrawals. My mother has an issue with using her card in shops and would use money instead, she prefers to make sure she has enough on her as well for Emergencies. Sometimes she has also withdrawn money for myself if I leave my bank card at home but this is given back to get with my own cash.

I’m very confused about what the possible accusation is.

Is this generally something to worry about?

I was thinking perhaps an accusation suggesting that this friend lives here at the house which he doesn’t? How could that even be proved? The friend has their own house.

Also MIND are involved with my mother as she sometimes gets visitors from MIND.

I’m worried for my mother as she is not taking this really well.

Thank you,

Pete

Nicfaz92

Hi Pete

My partner claims all the same benefits as your mother for mental health reasons. When we were first considering moving in together we got a letter similar to your mother's (I also received one at my mum's house for myself) and like you I called them up panicking.

Turns out someone with too much time on their hands had suggested we were living together. I explained over the phone that it was a trial period due to our son and my partners health problems however I would fill in the paperwork that week to claim jointly as a couple. This satisfied DWP and nothing more was heard after that telephone conversation.

Until about 9 month later we rexived the same kind of letter for my partner only. We called up again and spoke to the compliance officer that we dealt with the first time round. She explained someone had suggested my partner was working, going to the gym, playing golf etc all of which he cannot do. He can't even go to the shop alone..we actually laughed with the compliance officer about how people should really find someyhing better to do however if she needed more evidence she could contact his GP. Again they were satisfied without attending an interview.

As long as your mother is upfront and honest with nothing to hide (And it sounds this way) she has nothing to worry about. Maybe try calling up again and ask for more details regarding the interview as the stress of waiting to find our if she is in trouble is adding to her illness causing undue anxiety.

As I said try not to worry too much, They could just be following up on the word of someone with incorrect facts.

(Before this causes uproar I am not condoning benefit fraud nor am I putting down those who genuinely report it.. just those who do this unnecessarily on compltley fabricated information wasting everybody's time and causing unnecessary stress)

John_peters_2

Thank you for your reply nicfaz,

She doesn’t get about that great and is very slow. Holds onto my arms when we are out. She isn’t very good with people in general but feels safe when she is with myself or her friend.

The friend does sometimes help her with medical appointments like GP or ordering meds when I can not because of work, this is very helpful for myself too.

I’m just very concerned about the accusation. She lives in this house with myself, will spend most the day being looked after by her friend and then is either dropped off home late or I pick her up and bring her home.

Regards,

Pete

Ames

It really sounds as though you have nothing to worry about. Go to the interview, take all the information they've asked for, and tell the truth.

In the meantime get in touch with Mind as your mum will probably need a bit more support through this because of the impact on her health. It might be worth letting the GP know too.

John_peters_2

Yeah I think getting in touch with MIND would be sensible.

I’m wondering also if she has been seen perhaps out somewhere and someone has made an accusation perhaps about her disability. She only goes out with myself or her friend. She can’t stay indoors forever.

No one really knows her circumstances to be honest as we don’t talk to neighbours much at all. But I’m wondering if perhaps a neighbour has said something. Just very surprised.

Regard

FBaby

Did she receive money, inheritance or does she have some undeclared savings that someone might found out about?

John_peters_2

No nothing like that.

Recently a tax rebate but nothing substantial. A few hundred.

No inheritance and no savings.

FBaby

There is always the possibility they got the wrong person depending on the information provided. It happened to a friend of mine. She got all stressed for days, couldn't understand why she would have been reported as she made sure to report everything and had nothing to hide at all. Turned out it was another person with a similar name who lived very close to her!

BoGoF

What was the tax rebate for - from what you have said she won't have any income that has been taxed?

John_peters_2

She was working last year so had some returned money. (From wha she had paid tax for).

poppy12345

John_peters wrote: »

She was working last year so had some returned money. (From wha she had paid tax for).

Did she tell them that she was working? How many hours and how much pay did she earn?