DWP compliance officer telephone interview

DebB49

Hi

My mother who is 81 has received a letter saying the DWP compliance officer will be calling next week to discuss her housing benefits.

Firstly they sent it to the wrong address and they have the wrong phone number, I sorted this out.

She is really worried about the call and to be honest she only receives her state pension she hasn’t got over £2000 in savings but the thing is a few years ago she got herself into a problem with her bills and had bailiffs calling I had to sort out all her financiers and ended up paying everything off for her I then I set up direct debits from my account and I transfer the money from her account to mine to cover these and get money out for her.

My question is will the DWP think this is weird. If I didn’t do this my mum would have probably been evicted by now. I’ve even said if anything happens to me my daughter would have to sort things out for my mum

TELLIT01

No they won't. They may ask about the DD but there is no problem in providing an honest explanation of the reasons for paying off her previous debts.

DebB49

Thank you.

TELLIT01

Are you going to be there when the DWP calls? If so, they will still need to speak to your mum first to get permission to speak to you.

Xbigman

Have you put anything in your name at her address? They may think you live there.



Darren

MovingForwards

Might be worth sorting out a power of attorney for your mom.

poppellerant

To the OP, please don't think I am being nasty when I say what I say next, because that isn't my intention.

But I really think that the for DWP to treat an 81 year old person in this manner is absolutely disgusting. I daresay the stress of this could even kill fragile people who are younger, let alone someone who is well into their retirement.

poppellerant

Still_Dave wrote: »

You night want to rein the ageism in a bit there. Arranging to call an 81 year-old to discuss their benefits is not even wrong, let alone disgusting.

I was cycling in the Pyrenees last year with a family friend who’s eighty. He’d not be amused at the idea that he can’t handle a phone call.

Pensioners and elderly people are targetted by scammers for a reason and that is because they are seen as vulnerable just because they are a pensioner.

Now if either of my own parents were pensioners who were worried about about a pending phone call from a DWP Compliance Officer, would I arrange to be there and help them during the phone call? Yes, I would because some elderly people can be easily confused and misled. I don't expect a Compliance Officer from the DWP to be tip-toeing around and asking the odd question or two. I would expect them to ask numerous questions to try and trip the claimant up, which is why I would try and help.

Yes there are people, such as your friend, who are physically and/or mentally fit. But I think it is a mistake on your part to assume that all 80-something year old people are equally as fit and capable.

teamgb

My wife got a letter from the DWP and I had to speak for her at the interview, the problem was soon sorted and the officer told me if we get any letters in the future to ring them and explain and they may be able to sort it over the phone. So try ringing them.

DebB49

Yes I will she’ll just get confused and probably won’t be able to answer. She’s really worried about it I told her not to worry. When we called to sort out the correct phone number they asked if she was working so I wonder if they thinks she works. She’s 81 has poor vision is partially deaf has angina, asthma and diabetes. Anyway they said they’d talk to her on the 9th

DebB49

I agree but not all 81 year olds are the same if I make it to 81 I’m hopeful that I’ll still have all my faculties but my mum isn’t like that and she’s is worried.