Agressive slandering neigbour and DWP data breach.

[slowlyloosingthewill]

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We now know that two years ago carer had received a single justice conviction and fine for an out of date student train ticket discount card, that she was unaware of.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.

@Roseyposey11 It does feel like a form of modern day slavery, but according to DWP person, because she has the option to take on more work or claim UC until she can find it, it isn't!
The DWP pay her NI stamp and she has to make all holiday arrangements with them. (I know she did for Christmas) They are aware she was not a friend or family.
I'm pretty sure there is nothing fraudulent.
I was contacted by someone who at least claimed to be from the job center .

@XmasShoppingsister Thank you for a really good idea to at least give her control over her personal information until things gets sorted out.

@Proudestmumofone1 I have been very transparent with all of them but I am worrying now!

I think it may be best if I ask for the thread to be taken down, while I go back to the authorities and make very sure of all the arrangements and people who put them in place.

TBH I wasn't happy with the official situation but it seemed to be an accepted answer and I was seen as being woke for thinking it wasn't good.
The only thing I can say in my defense is the carer herself wanted to keep going with me when she couldn't cope with trying to get UC, and I have done everything to make her situation as good as I can in my own not great situation.

I’m pretty shocked that the job centre are recommending people become carers like this, when the carers allowance is not intended to be a wage. Is this even allowed? I guess it must be, but seems crazy.

I second going to the Information Commissioner's office (ICO). DWP should have completed a data breach form and investigated. They need to find a solution. Have you formally complained to DWP? I would do that immediately if not already.

www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/complaints-procedure

Not sure what's going on here but it can't be right. You need to get back to DWP urgently because you appear to be tangled up in some sort of exploitation of this poor woman.

Just to add, @slowlyloosingthewill, people are talking a load of tosh about modern slavery & the like. Carer's allowance is not only for family members. It is exploitation, related or not, and this is how the government keeps social care bills down. It's approved exploitation.

A carer can claim UC or earn £151 a week on top of carer's allowance. If you're on high-needs disability benefits, she may even get an additional UC payment.

Screenshots from the govt website.

It is approved exploitation, and we have been encouraged to exploit each other. Neither of us are in great positions in relation to each other.

I am going to try and get an hours sleep before it all starts again.

Forgive me for sharing that you need to stop using the internet if it’s irritating you so much! HTH?

It’s a disgrace! Shocking for all involved.

If your Job Centre is sending immigrants with weak English to people as "employees" like this, than that needs reporting because that is simply wrong and absolute unacceptable, imho even unlawful. Carers on carer's allowance are not employees, they are people in receipt of supplementary benefit for caring for someone, not a salary. She is not employed, she is basically "volunteering" and getting the benefit.

What a horrible situation for you. Yes. Report to ICO and make the consequences of the error very clear. I work in data governance in the Civil Service. This breach will land in someone’s desk in the DWP and hopefully that person can step in and sort the ‘can’t update the address’ problem properly.

This is absolutely illegal and highly exploitative. It’s a breach of the NMW legislation and could also be prosecuted under the Modern slavery legislation. Carers allowance is intended as a top up for friends and family who are already carrying out caring responsibilities anyway out of the goodness of their hearts.

OP you could face prosecution and a large back pay bill plus liability for employers NI, failure to operate PAYE and potentially pension contributions. You need to sort this immediately.

How exactly did you first get in contact with this carer? And how did you talk to the person at DWP about holidays? Did someone come to your door claiming to be from the job centre? Did you click an advert online?

You should definitely contact Citizens Advice Bureau and describe everything that you told us here and ask for their help sorting it out.

I really want to see the "basic contract"

This absolutely sounds like a scam.

How can she afford the tenancy?

If what she gets is the carer’s allowance and no UC, then how does she pay for it?

@slowlyloosingthewill you need to contact citizens advice and get help with the whole matter.

CA is absolutely not designed to be used in this way.

And hopefully they can help resolve the other matter with DWP

The DWP pay her NI stamp and she has to make all holiday arrangements with them. (I know she did for Christmas) They are aware she was not a friend or family

This can’t be right either.

They wouldn’t be paying her NI and they most definitely won’t be interested in her holiday arrangements.

You have either misunderstood, or she’s been telling you some porkies.

FGS, it's not illegal and the DWP does pay her NI!

If you can't read the screenshots I posted an hour ago, have a look for yourselves: https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance

OP says the carer

doesn’t receive UC.

Doesn't matter.

@Garlicworth op is not an employer, this is not employment, that is what's wrong with the situation.
DWP have sent a vulnerable unemployed person to be a carer but not an employed carer, yet OP is supposed to take employer's liability insurance and apparently there is a contract?
Caring for only carer's allowance, not salary, is not an employment as it is considered by OP and apparently by a DWP here

@TheElvesLongSleeves, you don't think it's right or fair, I don't think it's right or fair, OP doesn't think it's right or fair. But it is legal, above board and government approved. It's not "employment", it's being a carer on Carer's Allowance, but the government does treat the allowance as income. And it covers the carer's NI contributions.

OP would need to have liability insurance as you do for anyone working in your home, if they aren't insured by someone else or a policy of their own.

Ok, you are right, it doesn’t for the NI reimbursement.

But how does the carer pay her rent without UC?

The carer is not working therr though. The carer is not in employment nor is she swlf employed. This is not an employment and DWP should not treat it as such and actually send people there as if it's a job.

This is an arrangement set up by the dwp, I suggest you contact the dwp before advising the op.