Benefit fraud travel abroad pip esa urgent

poppy12345

mentalissues wrote: »

It also says on DWP website to notify us of any change of circumstances. I've recently been told that includes notifying them

Going on holiday for up to 4 weeks isn't a change of circumstances.

mentalissues

bspm1 wrote: »

No it can't

It says it's overpayment for failure to notifying any change of circumstances. What is that part referring to then ? Are you sure it doesn't refer to going abroad without notifying

mentalissues

So I should be in the clear with housing benefits, ESA pip then hopefully. I really don't want to be paying for those 4 weeks abroad every year just because I didn't notify .

bspm1

[ 19-01-2015, 12:11 PM MoneySaving Convert
Here it is



Update

Telephone call to DWP this morning at 8.10am


Me.......Hello I am in receipt of ESA SG and PIP and i'm going on holiday soon and not sure if I have to notify you?

DWP.....How long are you going for?

Me........22 days

DWP......Well it wont affect your benefit but when are you going?

Me.........26th February

DWP.......Well it is a little early to notify us, if you want to call back a few days before you are going and we can update your records unless you want me to update now?

Me........So I don't have to fill in a 15 page brochure because I am going away?

DWP......No, would you like me to update your case now?

Me.........Yes Please

National Insurance and security questions answered.

DWP.......So you are going on the 26th February for 22 days, where are you going?

Me..........Florida

DWP.......Thank you for letting us know, I have updated your records.

Me..........Do I HAVE to let you know if I go away in the future?

DWP.......Well there is nothing that says you HAVE to let us know and in your case it does not affect your benefit, the only thing it would affect is if we wrote to you while you were away but I cannot see how that would affect your time away, nothing would appear that urgent that it would need dealing with within a normal two week holiday, as you are going for three weeks it is probably best you do notify us.

Me........Thank you very much.

So that, in a nutshell, was my experience of notifying the DWP that I would be away from home, they weren't bothered, when I go away in June and October I wont tell them as I will only be going for two week holidays.

Last edited by bspm; 19-01-2015 at 12:14 PM.

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mentalissues wrote: »

It says it's overpayment for failure to notifying any change of circumstances. What is that part referring to then ? Are you sure it doesn't refer to going abroad without notifying

mentalissues

What does that mean. I'm not winding anyone up.

I don't understand why the investigation was close( they said due to lack of evidence as statements don't show how long I was abroad for plus it wasn't enough money to insinuate fraud but t the compliance officer made an appointment to see me NOT UNDER caution to see what I had to say for it. If I don't didn't admit to any of the transactions could she have decided to investigate it again? If I don't admit to any of them will they send the transactions to the decision overpayment team and let them to decide if I should pay based on just transactions?
There are many transactions of flights . But it doesn't prove anything

If I had gone over 10 weeks for medical treatment would it be treated as an overpayment for not notifying them?


If I don't admit to anything maybe they can't send anything to the overpayment team?

mentalissues

Well hopefully she knows what she's saying cos alot of customer service give the wrong information

mentalissues

Ps they also said that because I'm on benefits due to a mental illness social phobia that my condition is staying indoors as I can't be around people as I could get a panic attack hence I can't work maybe they can treat it as overpayment? Because I travelled ,because it goes against my condition? I have ways of coping for short journeys through alcohol. They don't understand that. I don't want to cause my case to be relooked at and have another assessment as I had it some months ago already but the compliance officer said I may have to .that's why even though I mentioned going abroad I rather say that I didn't at this point. As long as she can't reopen the case

poppy12345

mentalissues wrote: »

Ps they also said that because I'm on benefits due to a mental illness social phobia that my condition is staying indoors

Now that could be a totally different story....

Tallaght

Do you manage with your phobia if you went via plane or coach ?

mentalissues

No I am always rushing fast pretending I'm on the phone drinking alcohol waiting in toilets. But it's different to asking me to go to work and stay in an office or be around people constantly for months as it becomes unbearable but I could potentially bare with it to get on the flight and then to my destination where I stay indoors again.
The plane is also annoying but I hide my face as much as I ca