interview with benefits fraud dept

wazza

As i was getting back on my feet a nasty letter from benefits arrives. They have called me in for an interview. They are led to believe there has been a fraudulant claim comitted. They will tell me on the day.

This is worrying me now. The interview is in 2 weeks time and i know i am going to worry and be under stress wondering what is happening.

i remember a while back someone had posted a similar post.

i am a lone parent, a father with 3 kids under the age of 10. Had to quit my job because the yongest wasn't attending school. He's under 3. Their mother walked out a year ago without any warning. She simply texted me saying she has left.

there is a person in a local library who helps people out with claiming benefits. Got to know him over the last year. Saw him last week and we were talking about finding a part time job and how difficult its to find one that is school friendly, what i mean is they let u have days off during school holidays. I jokingly said its better for me to stay at home on benefits than work because i will lose out if i worked. He agreed.

now a week later i receive this letter. Did he report me? or is the letter a ploy of getting you in to make sure your claim is legit?

do i need to take a legal representative? what rights do i have? what documents do i need to take? since my young one is now attending afternoon session he will have to come with me to the interview because its in the morning

any help/advice/assistance would be helpful. sorry if the above is long winded or makes no sense my minds confused on how serious this is

thanks in advice

Fran

Get down to Citizens Advice bureau with all your info, sometimes they can go with you to the interview (have they said they are going to give you a taped interview?), they can certainly advise. If it's a taped interview you can take someone with you (very advisable). CAB will be able to check your current sitaution anyway and help you decide what the interview might be about. It could be that your ex has tried to make a fraudulent claim for benefits for the kids perhaps? I don't know about you having been reported after that conversation (assuming it didn't include something else about other income you have coming in or something like that), it could be something you have done by mistake that's why it's important to get it looked at by CAB.

wazza

thanks. just forgot to mention that i receive IS and assistance with mortgage payments. Had received a letter from CSA requesting my wife's whereabouts and also from child tax credit. These two are the only thing i canthink off which might trigger off bell at the fraud dept. They did say that whatever i say in the interview could be used.

Can i get them to visit me at my home address?

Savvy_Sue

wazza wrote:

since my young one is now attending afternoon session he will have to come with me to the interview because its in the morning

Is there ANYONE who could look after your son for the morning? Friend from nursery perhaps, if you can return the favour some other time? It will be hard enough answering their questions, I'm sure, but worrying about a youngster at the same time won't help any.

wazza

Savvy_Sue wrote:

Is there ANYONE who could look after your son for the morning? Friend from nursery perhaps, if you can return the favour some other time? It will be hard enough answering their questions, I'm sure, but worrying about a youngster at the same time won't help any.

afraid not. i am alone here. family live 100miles away. if i leave him with friends he cries. ever since his mum has left he has gotten very attached to me fearing i might leave as well

carly

I know this has upset you, but as long as you have declared all your income you have nothing to fear. Discussing getting a part time job is nothing to do with them and they wouldnt be interested, even if your aquaintance had reported it. More likely that your ex is stirring it, if the CSA have been after her for child support, by telling lies about you. I would ask them to visit you at home ( they will, if it suits them ). I would say little until they tell you the exact nature of their enquiries and then be open with them. Any genuine mistakes can be easily rectified at this stage without it being classed as fraud. Dont forget they have a duty to follow up any information they have been given by others so they are probably not out to get you, just clearing things up.

Jet

Hi Wazza,

My friend was in a similar situation a little while ago. She racked her brains about what it could be and got herself really worried.

In the end it was just that the council hadn't written a piece of information down correctly. A simple misunderstanding. She got no apology.

I think it's wrong that claimants get these letters frightening the life out of them before they have got their facts correct.

I hope it all goes OK

impecunious

First off, I'm saddened by your plight Wazza and sincerely hope that you will remain strong enough to cope with what most certianly is a difficult period in your life.

If I was a betting man, I would lay money on the following:

1) The friendly guy at the library has NOT informed on you for the simple reason that as you are claiming IS you are under no obligation to look for work. If you were claiming JSA, then it would be a totally different matter.

2) The mother of your children has made a benefit claim, possibly stating that she is looking after the children. In which case, of course, there will be two claims for the children and the two have come to the notice of the fraud department.

I think it is important for you not to go on the defensive with this, Wazza, and instead go on the offensive. I would certainly write to the fraud office and tell them in no uncertain terms that it is impossible for you to attend in the morning for the reason you mentioned, but you would be more than willing to sort this matter out on any afternoon. As Fran suggests, contact your local CAB to get some legal advice too.

I personally don't see the need to stress about this, as you haven't done anything illegal. There is obviously a reason why they have called you in and it may well just be nothing more than a mistake on their part.

Keep strong!

wazza

First of all i want to say thanks to those who replied and sent me PMs. Just that the wording of the letter makes it sound very serious and it could be a standard letter they send to all regardless of severity of the fraud. Wish i knew what it was about beforehand so i can be prepared to provide evidence etc.

regarding the timing and my son the office is about 1/2 an hour drive and if i make it later then i will not be able to pick the other two children from school due to rush hour

the only thing i can guess for the cause of this enquiry is CSA. They contacted me recently asking the whereabouts of my wife. I could not give them the address, the infomation i dont have. Have told them to find her through her national insurance number because i believe she is working part time somewhere.

System

Has your wife put in a claim for family tax credits? This happened to someone i know, her husband who she was seperated from, misguidedly put in a claim for tax credits - he thought he was eligible as he paid maintenance.:rolleyes: They supposedly set up as it up as a joint claim even though he explained he was seperated from the mother of the kids he was claiming for - even though the wife hadnt signed for it. She was on benefits at the time and he lived about 120 miles away. Meanwhile, the husband realized his error and tried to pay it back, he had problems paying it back as they wanted to leave it as it was and said the adjustment would be made the following year. The wife got dragged into a fraud investigation.

thor

Hey Wazza, take your son with you to the interview. At the very least it will prove that it is you and not your wife who is looking after them - if you find out that is what she is trying to do.