DWP Scam or genuine

pamsw66

My elderly mum has received a letter from DWP  :Notice of a compliance Telephone Interview" stating a time the call should take place and insinuating benefits being stopped it not it looks like a scam to me
1. Would they address her by her Christian name? They did
2. Would they not have her NI number on the letter? It did not
3. Would they offer to send some correspondence for her to sign to allow them to get access to bank statements 
Any advice would be great

Madrick

Have you called the DWP on her behalf to clarify?

Obviously not using any numbers on the letter, but from Internet search 

LV_426

Looks fishy to me.

MovingForwards

Look on the benefits board, this always pops up and there's one currently running on the disability board too.

1. Maybe
2. Not necessarily.
3. No.

xylophone

You could phone to  establish that the letter is genuine but DWP do send these letters - sometimes it is just a  way  of  checking that the person is in receipt of all benefits to which he is entitled.

https://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/topic/434183-notice-of-a-compliance-telephone-interview-dwp-what-is-this-stressed-out-resolved/

jamesd

The need for permission to access bank statements looks like a major red flag to me, since in any fraud-related investigation DWP and councils wouldn't need permission to get access. This causes me to suspect that the paperwork would allow some sort of third party access to money in her bank accounts.

As usual with potential scams, best to use an already known contact number or address, not the one on the potential scam correspondence, to check whether the communication is genuine.

Silvertabby

Is your mum actually in receipt of any means tested benefits, such as pension credit?

Alice_Holt

As Silvertabby states What benefits is she in receipt of ?

If getting means-tested Pension Credit (PC) , then ring PC to check.   
https://www.gov.uk/contact-pension-service
Also you may wish to acquaint yourself with the regulations around PC and savings
https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility

On 3) - the DWP already have the ability to access financial records when fraud is suspected without a claimants signature. So, this potentially does look an odd inclusion on the letter. 

I would advise you to be present for the call (if your mother receives PC).
If she is not in receipt of a DWP means-tested benefit, then don't disclose any information and contact her MP to alert the DWP (in case there are any future DWP issues) and write to the DWP Permanent Secretory making them aware of  potential scams / poor DWP letter wording.