I just out of the blue received a letter from a Compliance Officer asking me to attend an interview about my benefits at the Job Centre. I am a claimant of Employment and Support Allowance (the benefit that replaced Incapacity Benefit) due to mental health problems.
Does this mean I am being suspected of fraud?
I have no partner or family, keep myself to myself and nobody even knows I'm on benefits so it seems unlikely anyone would have "reported" me.
I applied for ESA in 2009 for serious mental health problems. I had Atos medical, got some points but not enough. I appealed, won my appeal and got put into Work Related ESA Group in July 2010. Since then I've not heard a thing, never been invited to any Work Related interview, never been called for a new medical. This in itself seems very unusual?
I am also on DLA.
My circumstances have not changed since the claim.
What could this be about?
Theres a so called direct line on the letter but Ive been calling all day and it's constantly engaged.
The interview is not for over a month. I'm already in a complete state and I don't know how to cope. My mental health problems have incapacitated me and I use the benefit payments for psychotherapy and for keeping a roof over my head (paying my rent). I am terrified because the letter says something about they might suspend my benefit. If they did such a thing when would it happen? Would it be without warning? How would I afford to eat and pay my rent?
I called the DLA people and they have no idea what I am talking about. I called ESA and they also had no idea what I am talking about and said, "your claim is live and there is no end date."