Housing Benefit

ALOYSIUS

I receive Housing Benefit and, recently, I was asked to attend a Customer Compliance Interview.
When I went to the interview I had a shock. I was told that I had over £97,000 in an ISA and that I hadn't informed the people paying my benefit. I have never in my entire life, I am 67 now, had anything like this amount. I don't even have an ISA.

I was told, though not very helpful, that the information comes from a bank and is passed on to HMRC and the they inform the DWP. At no time was a document produced, like a bank statement which, proved I had this amount of money.

I was asked about other matters related to my benefit, and at a second interview produced these and was asked to provide more information: all my bank statements from 2012 to the present.

I still have not been shown any proof that I have the £97k.

Is this just an excuse for benefit staff to probe other aspects of my benefit?

xylophone

Is this just an excuse for benefit staff to probe other aspects of my benefit?

I would be very surprised if they can just pull an imaginary ISA out of the air in order to harass claimants.

Surely they have the right to call you for a compliance check at any time, without having to fabricate excuses?

Afraid_of_Kittens

Data Matching Exercise would have linked you to an account. Errors do occur. demand to see proof of this money.

Afraid_of_Kittens

How much was your late Mother's Life Insurance Policy? What happened to the cash? https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5193399

ALOYSIUS

Thanks for the message. The interviewer refused to show proof, and worse, when I requested information from the DWP under the Freedom of Information Act I was told that Section 30 (3) means the DWP does not have to say where the information came from, so it's impossible to challenge.

Afraid_of_Kittens

ALOYSIUS wrote: »

Thanks for the message. The interviewer refused to show proof, and worse, when I requested information from the DWP under the Freedom of Information Act I was told that Section 30 (3) means the DWP does not have to say where the information came from, so it's impossible to challenge.

I would contact your MP and get your MP to act on your behalf to get to the bottom of this.

[Deleted User]

A couple of years ago the DWP insisted that I had £4000 in premium bonds, in fact I have £4 dating back to the 1950's, I had to get a letter from premium bond people stating this, it was mystifying to say the least, I put it down to someone hitting 3 zeros by mistake.
As above contact your MP.

Topcat1982

Sounds like it's just a mistake.

Did they tell you which bank it is supposedly in? That might be a start.