Benefit fraud?

LindaR1965 wrote: »

First time posted so hope this is in the right place. If not I apologise.

My 20 year old daughter is in receipt of pip and esa. She has ms. She received a letter from dwp to go in for an interview regarding her benefits. We assumed it was just the usual, you still have ms, no cure found yet, you're just the same or worse. She went herself as it was no big deal. Turns out they wanted to ask questions regarding her committing benefit fraud. She opened an isa and her and her boyfriend have been putting money in it for a holiday. It's sitting at £4000. She has a saving account with 28p in it. Her current account has a couple of hundred. Do they have a right to access her accounts without her knowledge? About 2 years ago before she was in receipt of esa I put £28,000 in her account. This was part of an inheritance she received 13 years previously. She has no idea of this inheritance. She bought a brand new car, paid for driving lessons, insurance for car, went on holiday, bought clothes, make up etc, crashed car so bought another. Money was soon gone. She had a further £40,000 in a bond. When she applied for esa and pip on the phone they asked about any money she had, she said she had none as she did not know about it. I was there so luckily I took phone and explained about the bonds. The advisor told me it was ok as they would not affect her benefits. (Hopefully they still have a recording of this). Now 2 years later they are investigating her. The letter had nothing on it about an investigation or that it would be under caution. I have contacted a solicitor, we meet them in Tues. I am so very worried they find her guilty. It was an honest mistake. She has the money to pay them back. Will they send her to prison because of the amount involved. She thinks it's about £18,000. Could be more. She can't do community service due to her ms. I am worried sick. The stress of this could trigger a relapse for her as she's terrified. Anyone any advice or been through anything similar?

LindaR1965 wrote: »

Her dad died and then 4 months later his mum died. She had not changed her will so the money that was due to her dad got put in trust with myself and my sister as trustees. This was held till she reached 18. At the time she claimed. She had no idea of this money. It was held in trust till she reached age of sense, which was 18. She had no access to them. When she reached 18, I released £28,000 to her to do with what she wanted. Mad money we called it. She had been diagnosed with a progressive incurable illness and had been almost bed bound for 6 months so I wanted her to spend spend spend to help her feel better. Maybe not the best advice but you had to be there to appreciate the devastation she was feeling at diagnosis. So after that my sister and I released the remaining funds into her name. These funds are kept to help look after her in the future by either a down payment on a property or adaptations to a property should she need it. We did not give this money any thought or conceal it as after initial conversation I never thought to mention it again. I can't even say I thought it was ok to not mention because of being told it did not count as the money just did not enter my head again.

hign10pines wrote: »

Is she even allowed to drive?

LindaR1965 wrote: »

crashed car so bought another.

Diary wrote: »

DVLA have probably also been kept in the dark.