Compliance interview dwp

Pauluk

Hope someone can help. Was called in for a compliance interview after a malicious call saying I was working and had substantial savings. I showed them my bank statements which showed I had 7800.. I'm on esa and was told by the interviewee that over 6000-16000 they reduce it, and a week later my esa was reduced £20. I'm not working but she asked for further backdated statements, which I supplied and they lost them so had to supply them yet again in March. These were logged. However I am still waiting for them to tell me how much overpayment there has been and what happens next. All they tell me is that they're still going through paperwork. .in August! I don't understand what's taking so long when they've had the relevant bank statements since early March. It's just extra stress I don't need atm as I'm long term ill

calcotti

You lose £1 for every £250 or part thereof above £6000. So if you have £7800 you would expect to lose £8/week. They are obviously going to go through your statements and see how much you have been overpaid. Unfortunately I think you will just have to wait to hear from them.

marliepanda

You cannot really complain about them taking a long time. You went over the £6000 savings limit and did not tell them until someone made a call (which was partially correct!) and they investigated it. How long was it between you going over 6k and them finding out?

If you want your claim to continue with no hassle, then you needed to have kept your claim up to date. Investigations will take a lot longer than simply updating your claim, as they naturally will want to double check everything and see how long your overpayment goes back.

Pauluk

Thanks for the replies. I'm not sure how long back exactly which is why I gave them over 2 years back to be sure they had everything the needed. The problem is that due to my health i barely go out, have no car, never splurge on things like tvs or clothing and so spend very little other than rent and basic food bill, and so savings have crept up. I was told by advisor to spend to get rid of some like a car on sofa but I think this is dishonest.

I genuinely knew about the 16000 threshold but not about the 6000, apparently not many people do if these forums are anything to go by. It's just unfortunate that due to my health is don't go out much or have many expenses and I'm not the sort of person who buys new furniture, it's all second hand, don't drink or eat out, no car insurance or petrol, hence how I'm now 2800 over the 6000.

However they'll see blatantly that I'm not working as no money goes into my account except esa every 2 weeks, there's no other income at all.

poppy12345

Pauluk wrote: »

, hence how I'm now 2800 over the 6000.

.

Have you told them you're savings have increased again? You do need to report any changes, otherwise that over payment is just going to keep on increasing.

TELLIT01

Savings from benefits are disregarded but I don't know how long for. The bank statements will show everything which has been paid into the account.

poppy12345

TELLIT01 wrote: »

Savings from benefits are disregarded but I don't know how long for. The bank statements will show everything which has been paid into the account.

This is for back dated payments and these are disregarded for 52 weeks. The OP has savings because they don't spend their benefits, which is totally different.

Pauluk

Is it correct for a jc advisor to tell me I need to spend the money on something to bring it down? That doesn't sit well imo.

I think partly it's mental too, I was homeless about 10 years ago and am paranoid one day my esa will stop and I'll be homeless again. But saying that I'd never buy new clothes or furniture when I can go to a charity shop instead. I don't drive. I don't drink. I don't do drugs. Just my prescription meds.

I'm not sure if it's incompetence (they lost all my initial bank statements) but from the date of the compliance interview in January it's been over 8 months simply to look through a few pages of bank statements. That seems crazy to me.

poppy12345

Pauluk wrote: »

Is it correct for a jc advisor to tell me I need to spend the money on something to bring it down? That doesn't sit well imo.

I think partly it's mental too, I was homeless about 10 years ago and am paranoid one day my esa will stop and I'll be homeless again. But saying that I'd never buy new clothes or furniture when I can go to a charity shop instead. I don't drive. I don't drink. I don't do drugs. Just my prescription meds.

I'm not sure if it's incompetence (they lost all my initial bank statements) but from the date of the compliance interview in January it's been over 8 months simply to look through a few pages of bank statements. That seems crazy to me.

It's your money to spend how you wish. If your furniture needs replacing or you want something new then it doesn't mean you can't buy it. There's nothing against treating yourself to new things, once in while.

There's nothing wrong with buying from a charity shop but why do that when you have the money to buy else where? DWP are not going to question every time you buy some new, whether it's furniture, white goods or clothing, it's replacing old for new.

TELLIT01

poppy12345 wrote: »

This is for back dated payments and these are disregarded for 52 weeks. The OP has savings because they don't spend their benefits, which is totally different.

Thanks for the clarification. It does seem ridiculous though that if somebody is able to live on less that the total amount of benefit received they will eventually be penalised for so doing.
Before any of the usual suspects come along saying benefit shouldn't be claimed if it's not needed, nobody is doing anything wrong by claiming anything they are entitled to.

poppy12345

TELLIT01 wrote: »

Thanks for the clarification. It does seem ridiculous though that if somebody is able to live on less that the total amount of benefit received they will eventually be penalised for so doing.
Before any of the usual suspects come along saying benefit shouldn't be claimed if it's not needed, nobody is doing anything wrong by claiming anything they are entitled to.

Yes indeed, i totally agree but there's no law or anything in the DWP rules that stop someone claiming benefits and buying the things they want, rather than saving the money. For those reading this, i certainly don't mean buying expensive items either.