Talk me down, I think I’ve committed benefit fraud

[ellotheremate]

I’m in a blind panic and the lady on DWP helpline referring to it as a deception hasn’t helped .

I was a student last year . Due to mental illness (ie I took an overdose) and subsequent issues (housebound) I moved home to my mums . If I hadn’t I’d have ended up homeless . No other family .

My mum has multiple severe disabilities and receives ESA, PIP and was getting something called severe disability premium . When I moved home my head was in a mess, I was on high doses of Valium and stuff . It didn’t ever occur to me that I should have told someone I was at home . My mum has zero understanding of money and equally wouldn’t have told DWP .

Didn’t get any nhs help or anything for me . My mum started getting some regular help from NHS in July 2019 .

I was getting some student money up until January of this year, they then gave me discretionary payments to cover whilst I tried to get benefits . Uni tried to help me figure that out .

I’m now getting carers allowance and universal credit . Government have changed mums benefits in accordance to that .

However it’s occurred to me she should probably never have had that disability premium as long as I’ve been living at home .

DWP lass said she would ask her manager as she says the situation becomes very complicated with students, but said it might be classed as benefit fraud depending if they think I deliberately didn’t tell anyone . She said Mum might be eligible to start repaying any excess . They said they won’t be able to find out exactly what will happen for a while .

I’m totally confused and in a panic and not sure exactly how much money they mean or what they would want back . I’m also stupidly panicking that they could prosecute either one of us for this .

What am I best to do?

I'm so sorry to hear you have been treated like this, that member of staff needs their training updating. You have made an honest error, you or your mother may have to repay any overpayment but they should only make a small weekly deduction.

I suggest you do 2 things today;

1. Contact the person who prescribed the Valium and ask them for a letter to explain your mental state, what you were prescribed, and how the two combined may have affected your capacity.
   You can also show you were badly affected at the time, as you had move back home.

2. google for your nearest disability rights/advice service and ask them to help you both asap.
   Ask them as well to look into whether or not your mother can claim carers allowance for looking after you. (Its sometimes possible for 2 people to claim it if they look after each other)

Try not to worry- you haven’t deliberately withheld any information from anyone.

Very worst case scenario they would probably just ask you to repay any overpayment- but they have to allow you to do it slowly, small amount week by week.

How is your mental health now?