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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Agressive slandering neigbour and DWP data breach.

122 replies

slowlyloosingthewill · 18/02/2025 02:10

Can't sleep for stress.
DWP sent my carer letters to my address as a care of address as agreed by me, as she was sofa surfing.

For unknown reasons they then changed it to violent next door neighbors address! (She does have a DWP claim)

NDN sat on this for some time. and no one else knew.
We now know that two years ago carer had received a single justice conviction and fine for an out of date student train ticket discount card, that she was unaware of. It's grown to £950 and a few months after she stated working with me bailiffs had been given next doors address by/via DWP and went there. Neighbor sat on that for a few months too.

Then out it all came along with allegations that a UC claim had also been applied for, and a catalogue supposedly set up, and defaulted on over £550, supposedly with bailiffs too. But, no paperwork, just shouting NDN.
TBH wasn't sure if we should believe her.

Weeks later NDN finally handed over one DWP letter and the bailiff letter only,
DWP say no UC claim ever made, NDN wont give even the name of catalogue, let alone paperwork. Carers credit score hasn't changed. Police have said Action Fraud, who said no evidence so no fraud.

Bailiffs returned their debt to court after it was shown no attempt to hide or deceive, (plus she brought a full price ticket) DWP couldn't explain why they changed carers address to NDN but said all OK now.

NDN has made a couple of public scenes, but told produce paperwork as impossible to do anything further without it.

Tonight I have been seriously screamed at, struggled to get the woman out of my hall that she's accessed, and had serious slanderous unrelated rubbish along with claims it's fraudulent for me to have a carer, screamed up the street and threats of lies to the landlord, for a prolonged time causing people to stop and watch. Apparently months later she claims she's had another DWP letter for carer.

DWP can't confirm or deny, but admitted they had sent letters to my address then inexplicably to next door. They can't input carers new address as they say her flat number doesn't exist, (it has to, it's a block of not new flats and each has a number - no letters) then said they can't even input mine to end this, as the computer just defaults back to NDN each time they do!

They can't explain it, and say they can't block carers mail wrongly going out to this woman, even though they know, and that it's causing huge issues.

Poor carers personal info (with added BS) is being shouted all over the street, and it's allowing NDN to shout outrageous untrue claims that I've stolen from and defrauded named individuals and organizations and what a scummy person I am. It's a horrible data breach and DWP saying they can't explain it or fix it.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
lnks · 18/02/2025 03:21

verycloakanddaggers · 18/02/2025 03:20

This is bad form @JacquesHarlow

I really wish MNHQ would delete pedantic corrections like this.

I agree. I am partial to a bit of pedantry myself, but there is a time and a place.

slowlyloosingthewill · 18/02/2025 03:23

I would love to have enough money to bring her up to minimum wage. I supplement her in other ways as best I can, but agree I am taking advantage, but not because I wish to.

OP posts:
lnks · 18/02/2025 03:24

verycloakanddaggers · 18/02/2025 03:20

This is bad form @JacquesHarlow

I really wish MNHQ would delete pedantic corrections like this.

But @JacquesHarlow posts also contains typos 🤷‍♀️

CaptainFuture · 18/02/2025 03:24

This is bonkers and illegal, that is a benefit, not a wage.

lnks · 18/02/2025 03:27

OP, you are either very confused or deliberately misleading us.

slowlyloosingthewill · 18/02/2025 03:33

lnks · 18/02/2025 03:19

She’s sent from the job centre?
I’m not sure what’s going on or what is occurring here

What are the things you need help with, OP?

Edited

Yes the job center put her in touch with me as a result of their contacts with an agency that had been supplying carers to the council before they changed the system. I'm far from the only one so wasn't quite expecting the reaction.

What I was looking for help with was the horrible situation with DWP changing her address from mine to my aggressive neighbor's and then insisting there's nothing they can do as they aren't recognizing the address of the place she found, and are recognizing mine, but saying computer is refusing to change it.

OP posts:
CaptainFuture · 18/02/2025 03:35

lnks · 18/02/2025 03:27

OP, you are either very confused or deliberately misleading us.

Agree, this is the type of personal carer jobs currently being advertised by local job centre.
'Live in carer
Job details
Posting date:
14 February 2025
Salary:
£116 to £140 per day
Hours:
Full time
Closing date:
16 March 2025
Remote working:
On-site only
Company:
Good Care Group
Job type:
Permanent'

Even if this was 24/7 work, which it wouldn't be allowed to be, it's still more than £2 p.h!

Itstwentytwentyfive · 18/02/2025 03:37

I don't know what's hard to understand here. OP is in need of physical care but can cope mentally. Carer friend is unemployable because of inability to cope mentally but is physically capable. They each help each other so that the carer gets extra money to live on (via carer's allowance) and mental health support and OP gets physical assistance.
It's a mutual help scenario that is sticking to government rules. It's not ideal but not everyone lives in an ideal world. If OP pays her more on top, they will both get in trouble. OP would end up alone with no physical help and the carer ends up prosecuted for benefit fraud and unable to cope mentally.

As for the neighbour, I think you need to approach the CAB together.

slowlyloosingthewill · 18/02/2025 03:39

Not intentionally. As far as I understand the job center expected her to take on me, claim UC, and then her job coach would help her find additional care work alongside or around me. She didn't cope with the claiming UC part.

Edited to say @inks

OP posts:
CaptainFuture · 18/02/2025 03:40

But the carer isn't a 'friend' op says the dwp sent her.Yes the job center put her in touch with me as a result of their contacts with an agency that had been supplying carers to the council before they changed the system.
I'm actually concerned she's being exploited. £2ph!!

UlceratedPapacy · 18/02/2025 03:41

If true, this is highly unethical.

ColourBlueColourPurple · 18/02/2025 03:45

People being cared for are expected to pay for some levels of care out of their benefits, it's what it's for. We get a monthly invoice from the care company for my parents care, which is paid for from their DLA. There are also things like direct payments howevr I'm not familiar with these as we don't use them.

nwsw · 18/02/2025 03:46

Would it be ok to get a job and pay tax

They

Itstwentytwentyfive · 18/02/2025 03:48

It helps the authorities in the end though doesn't it. This way the local council don't have to cough up extra for OP's care costs and the job centre can get OP to support some of the carers assistance based needs. OP says it was the job centres idea.

There are plenty of people working in social care/benefits system who know tricks of the trade, so to speak.

I have to suspect the entire scenario is to get both OP and her carer out of their hair.

Garlicworth · 18/02/2025 04:01

Suggestions (I'm no expert, though):
~ Report screaming neighbour to police for harassment, trespass;
~ Report neighbour under the Postal Services Act 2000 - it's an offence to intentionally delay receipt of post. Not sure if this applies as the mail is being delivered to the stated address, but she is withholding your mail. Ask the cops?
~ Send a recorded delivery letter to the correct DWP department;
~ Ask the CAB for advice & help;
~ Ask your MP for help.

I'm sorry you're getting flak for your arrangements with your carer. It is pretty grim, but it sounds like a JobCentre workaround to get your helper some work experience. It might be counting as a Work-Related Activity, allowing her to stay on UC.

1smallhamsterfoot · 18/02/2025 04:07

But how is she under the remit of the jobcentre if she isn't claiming UC??

slowlyloosingthewill · 18/02/2025 04:08

Yes she is being exploited and it isn't nice to be part of it. I do what I can to make life fairer and better but it isn't enough.

She is only legally allowed to be topped up by £999 per year. She is entitled to UC but cant cope with it, and I believe she is allowed to earn an additional £150 a week from other sources but not from me on top of the top up unless she can become legally self employed, which I'm trying to encourage her to do, but she isn't managing that either..

@Itstwentytwentyfive the council has changed the system as it's facing going under. The problem with the expectation that disabled benefits will pay for carers, is the same pot of money also has to pay for all other disability needs including insurance and decent equipment for her.

OP posts:
Garlicworth · 18/02/2025 04:11

OMG, she isn't claiming UC? Sorry I missed that. But ... she must be, because that's where the £1,000 rule comes from - it's permitted work. It sounds like she's misunderstood something, surely?

slowlyloosingthewill · 18/02/2025 04:25

@1smallhamsterfoot She isn't anymore because she failed a commitment to do with claiming.

@Garlicworth I didn't realize this was going to go this way.
I've reported to police once before. It went down very badly and didn't bring help. I was told to try and avoid her, which I do, but there are some good ideas there.Thank you.

I don't know where the rule has come from, I'm not sure if it is permitted work, I thought it was something to do with tax and status.

OP posts:
Keepingittogetherstepbystep · 18/02/2025 04:26

For your own sake you need to get some advice from an outside agency.

What sort of insurance have you been told to get as cover. As you could end up being accused of being the person exploiting her.

It explains why the DWP are having issues with changing addresses.

AfraidToRun · 18/02/2025 04:37

Ask her to set up a PO box at the post office?

Roseyposey11 · 18/02/2025 04:44

OP, I’m sorry that either you are very muddled about this or it’s fraudulent.
Carers allowance is a benefit for somebody caring for a friend or family member for 35 hours plus a week.
It is never used to employ somebody and there is absolutely no way the job centre would have suggested this.
If you are employing her directly on this wage then you need urgent advise as you will fall foul of minimum wage, tax and NI. It could possibly even be considered modern day slavery in some circumstances.

slowlyloosingthewill · 18/02/2025 04:49

@Keepingittogetherstepbystep step I was told I had to get employers liability insurance as a minimum. I questioned if that made me an employer and was told no, the DWP paid her NI.

Why does this explain why the DWP are having issues with changing addresses?

She was without a fixed address. I let her use my address for DWP, then she got a legal tenancy room in a flat. At no time should DWP have changed her (care of) address to my NDN, and as soon as they knew they where sending personal details to someone unconnected to her should have investigated what happened and sorted it out, surely?

OP posts:
XmasShoppingsister · 18/02/2025 05:03

This is awful. I don't believe they can't change her address either back to yours as a care of address or to her own address. Otherwise nobody could ever move house?!

Unfortunately with DWP you have to continually bombard them with phone calls until you get an advisor who actually cares.

I have got one possible option for you, but it costs money. Could you pay royal mail to redirect any mail addressed to her at your neighbours house, to you? At least it would stop the neighbour having access to her paperwork until this can all be sorted out. Like others suggest I would contact CAB for some support.

Proudestmumofone1 · 18/02/2025 05:15

Oh dear god this poor ‘’carer’. Something has gone very wrong here - I know it’s not intentional, but this really is slave labour.

Plus taking advantage of a vulnerable person etc.

Absolutely no one should be ‘employed’ for £2hr.

carers allowance is for friends and family already providing care - not a new random person being ‘employed’ to do so.

further, I fully reiterate the previous post that you need to be paying tax, NI, pension providing annual leave etc if you are correct in your description. You are very vulnerable to huge fines without following employment laws.

You have a much bigger problem here than an angry / aggressive neighbour.