Previous tenant started using my address for DWP matters

[legofansmum]

Myself and DS (now 12) have been sole tenants of our housing association property since we moved in during June 2015.

I received a phone call from the previous tenant about ten days ago saying I’d some post came for him, then please could I leave it in the electric box outside and let him know and he’ll pick it up.

I’ve since just had two brown envelopes letters from the DWP. I haven’t opened them , but it’s obvious he is using my address for benefits reasons.

I’m now feeling stressed. He has served time in prison before for violent offences etc... I can’t let him use my address though because I am a single parent and it will affect my own DWP claims. I know they cross check because when I worked a few hours over a few months ago, DWP informed housing benefit I had worked extra and I had to pay the £ back to Housing Benefits.

Has anyone else had someone else use their address? Did it have repercussions for you? I’ve just wrote return to sender on the front and added on the back that I’ve been the sole tenant along with my child since June 15.

I’m so stressed, I don’t want to go falling out with people , but I can’t afford to have my tax credits etc ... cut as I can barely survive as it is.

I’d probably have opened them “by mistake” so I knew what’s going on. Then I’d phone up and speak to someone directly.

I think it's best to contact the DWP for advice. He doesn't need to know you spoke to them - if he asks again just say nothing turned up. They can "find out" from the electoral roll or council tax that he doesn't live there.

I agree with TiceCream or else I would have just scribbled 'return to sender, no longer here', on the envelopes and put back in post.

More difficult as he specifically asked you to keep letters for him.

I don't think you will get in trouble; if you are ever questioned by the DWP just plead ignorance and say the guy asked you to keep any post that came for him, for him to collect. You weren't to know what it was about after all (even if you guessed).

Please don't worry about it too much, you've done nothing wrong. You'd certainly be able to prove he doesn't live at your address if it came to that but I doubt it will. It's amazing how different departments of the same organisation don't talk to eachother.

Use the kettle steam to open and see what's in them. Then reseal with pritt stick

Ouch. Not happened to me but there are repercussions for your credit score for sure and I expect for benefits too, as there would be another adult living at your address.

I agree with you to return to sender with "Not at this address".

If he contacts you again, tell him you haven’t seen anything. The postal carrier must have recognized the address was wrong and not delivered them.

As a one-off I'd presume it was an error, that has made a claim and the DWP have had an old address on the system where they've sent the letters. I've worked in benefits and it happens, the system doesnt get updated properly so the letters go to a historic address.

I'd still ring the DWP though and let them know you've received some letters for Mr Smith who used to live here but hasn't since 2015 then write on them 'return to sender, not at this address' and put them back in the post. If he calls you again say nothing has arrived.

I wouldnt tolerate this. I had someone use my address for credit in the future. I phoned the company and said he didnt live there. Problem went away for about 6 months until he tried again.

I would report the phone call to the DWP, even if there is some heart breaking real excuse why he can’t claim at his present address, if he is using yours as a single parent you run the risk of your benefits being affected. Your money could be stopped while they investigate and you could be up for all kinds of stress.

Send back and say the addressee is not living at that address anymore on the envelope.
Alternatively I'd ring them and say you have had mail for a previous tenant, such and such, and clearly they were sent to your address by mistake.

I’d open them to see what was going on then re-seal and return to sender as you have done.

And I’ll pre-empt anyone saying this is illegal - it isn’t!

How on earth did he get your number?

Plus these days with everything done on line, it would only be to get written notice as proof of ID that you live there or officially notice of £ Of a new claim. There are not written to just send him a Xmas card.

I'd open it and if it is him using your address I'd be straight onto DWP to let them know. You owe him nothing. Keep yourself right

It is illegal to knowingly use someone elses address for claims when you make a claim you confirm your address phone number everything if they arnt using there own they might not even be entitled

This happened to me. Previous tenant was claiming living at my address with his 2 children. I was only periods living there along with my own 2 children. Nothing to do with him.

Anyway. I started getting. A lot of post there for him. Kept sending them back with “no one at addres” on back. When it came round for my working tax credit renewal I was accused of living with a partner (I was single) with his 2 children and my own. They suspended my benefits and launched an investigation. I was treated like a criminal and had to prove I was the only tenant and that I was not in a relationship with this person. I had to get my landlord involved, sent lots of copies of bills, rent agreement etc to them but still accused me of lying. Eventually after a couple of months it was finally agreed I was single (even had a home visit ) it turned out he was living abroad but claiming benefits and just never changed his address with the benefits place.

I would advise to open any mail that arrives and contact the places explaining what’s happening. X

Happened to my DP. He opened the post, rang the DWP about it, and no he didn't break the law, and the DWP handled it.

Thanks everyone
I will send the envelopes back to them to lo.

It’s someone with a criminal record as long as long as your arm, that I don’t want to cross. This is someone who has made headlines of our local paper for violent and drug related crimes.
I’m absolutely petrified of being falsely accused of benefit fraud. I don’t earn enough to cover the rent and council tax. So if my tax credits stop then DS and I are totally screwed.

Hi , he has my telephone number from when I did a social housing swap with a relative of his in 2015. I didn’t have his , but he recently got I touch to ask me to keep any mail to one side doe him. I just presumed it was something that come by mistake, but I now know he is definitely making claims here.

Return the letters to sender.
I got investigated by the dwp years ago because some idiot decided to use my address for her benefits. It was so stressful, you don't need that in your life.

I would call the DWP, return the letters to sender, and claim that nothing arrived

It has the potential to mess up your own finances, don’t get involved in his potential fraud

Thanks, I’m absolutely terrified of my money being stopped, I’ve done nothing wrong and it would mean I couldn’t feed my son , heat the house (electric meters), pay bus fare etc ...

Open it but mistake' and call DWP, if your return to sender it gets sent to a central place before going to the relevant centre so could take weeks or sometimes months (has been known to) and while your waiting for that you'll still be receiving post. If you call they should stop letters going out to him and get him to contact to update his address

That's why you need to call the DWP.

This isn't an understandable overlap with addresses. You moved in four and a half years ago. This man is a committing fraud and putting your own legitimate claim at risk. You know the DWP will stop your money if they think they have to investigate, so head that one off at the pass by talking to them about your very genuine concerns.

I'd be changing number too OP.