compliance officer visit.

sarebear_2

my husband received a letter today saying that a compliance officer will be visiting him on monday to go over his claim. he has been on incapacity benefit for about 10 years now and has never had a visit like this before.
so we are getting worried now ! one of our friends says it is nothing to worry about and it will just be to check on things, but another friend says compliance officers are investigating fraud !
he doesn't work, but does help a friend out with a bit of guidance on his cars as he hasn't got a clue !!!! but as i said he doesn't ever get paid and he only goes up there if his mates car breaks down !!
has anyone ever had a visit from them ? what do they want to know or are we worrying over nothing?
he phoned them today but they just said someone will be out to see him on monday, and when he asked if they needed to see us both they said not really, as long as he is in that will be fine. but i would think if there was a problem they wouldn't tell us they were coming and would just turn up in an attempt to catch him out etc .

healy

Customer Compliance Team do a range of checks regarding benefit claims and work across all benefits. They are now becoming a routine part of the claims process. Make sure you have all the information they ask for and there shouldn't be a problem. It is possible that your husband has been reported for something but if all is above board there should be no problem.

jdavanport

sarebear wrote: »

my husband received a letter today saying that a compliance officer will be visiting him on monday to go over his claim. he has been on incapacity benefit for about 10 years now and has never had a visit like this before.
so we are getting worried now ! one of our friends says it is nothing to worry about and it will just be to check on things, but another friend says compliance officers are investigating fraud !
he doesn't work, but does help a friend out with a bit of guidance on his cars as he hasn't got a clue !!!! but as i said he doesn't ever get paid and he only goes up there if his mates car breaks down !!
has anyone ever had a visit from them ? what do they want to know or are we worrying over nothing?
he phoned them today but they just said someone will be out to see him on monday, and when he asked if they needed to see us both they said not really, as long as he is in that will be fine. but i would think if there was a problem they wouldn't tell us they were coming and would just turn up in an attempt to catch him out etc .

Hi,i've been on long term incap for a while now,and i have compliance officers out to see me on three occasions, each time it was to make sure i was getting the right benefit/benefits whether anything has got better/worse.
Its mainly for keeping their records up to date.

Mojisola

sarebear wrote: »

he phoned them today but they just said someone will be out to see him on monday, and when he asked if they needed to see us both they said not really, as long as he is in that will be fine.

I always think that it's a good idea to have someone else with you in these situations, especially if you're worried about it.

sarebear_2

i think the only reason we are worried is that we have never had one of these visits before .
from the couple of replys received it seems that these visits are fairly common now, so will have to just wait and see.
but i am fairly sure if there was a problem surely they wouldn't warn us they were coming round !?

sarebear_2

don't suppose anyone on here is or knows a compliance officer who can put my mind at rest and tell me what these visits are for

snails's_pace

i shouldn't loose sleep over it if your claiming legitimately ,
it sounds like normal procedure to me.

cookingmama31

Hi there I am not sure if this is the right place to ask this but here we go...On Wed I received a letter from Jobcentre plus Fraud Investigation Service requesting me to an interview under caution at my local office on Thurs. The letter states they believe there are grounds for suspecting that I may have commited a criminal offence in relation to a benefit claim by failing to declare a change in my circumstances namely LWSAHW! Now I am a single mother of four and I get on great with both of there dads but I don't live with them and I never have. I have spoken to the CAB who gave me a phone number of a solicitor to contact. I spoke to him yesterday and he said he always advises clients to seek legal advice before attending one of these IUC. I feel that that is sensible but as I know I have done nothing wrong should I just go and see what it's all about. I haven't had my benefits suspended but I did recieve another letter yesterday telling me to attend at 12 instead of 10. Both the CAB and the solicitor have said that it seems as if someone has made an allegation about me and the DWP have taken it seriously! I did have a falling out with a neighbour around 4 weeks ago (her life isn't exactly a bed of roses at the mo) and although she knows neither one of my ex's live with me she has obviously decided to make my life as difficult as possible. Also her husband is a police officer if I suspect him of accessing my personal data can I find that out. I attended an interview with a customer compliace team around two years ago which was quite intimidating, the lady who interviewed me told me I couldn't have anyone to stay over with me who I could be seen as having a relationship with. One of my ex's has another partner but my ex who is the father of my two youngest has stayed over the odd night (maybe2/3 since xmas) when I have been out with friends and once because our youngest wasn't well and he wanted his daddy!. All utility bills are in my name and he has his own place. I would really appreciate a little advice, I would have thought they needed some hard evidence to interview me in this way! I am a little worried as I said single mother of 4 my nerves are shot to bits at the best of times!!!

healy

I think you are more likely to get a response on this if you post your message as a new thread. I hope this helps.

sarebear_2

my husbands letter doesn't mention anything about under caution. it just says they are reviewing his claim. was your last meeting with them the same as his letter ?

cookingmama31

Hiya I haven't a clue how to post a new thread...I'm hopeless!!!

My last letter was 2 maybe 3 pages and had customer compliance on it, they are there I think to assess your claim and check theres nothing been changed on your part since you began claiming. I felt when I attended mine (I claim IS by the way) that I was having to explain my life and I obvously wasn't entitled to have one because I am a single mum who claims benefits. She softened up towards the end of the interview but I still felt it unneccessary!