compliance interview possible fraud

[snailz]

hi ladies just wondering if any of you have recently had a compliance interview? me and my boyfriend live at different addresses, my daughter (not his) is disabled and i am on esa due to my own condition. he is paid to be her carer (carers allowance), he comes to my house to care for her as his place is unsuitable and up a flight of steps. i have been reported for fraud that he lives at my address. im a bit concerned by this interview i must have. its not under caution however i guess im being suspected of the crime :(. he comes over several times a week and sometimes stay over in her bedroom as she requires nightly care, she has dla high rate due to her high care needs during the night.

If she needs that much care and you are not able to provide it, does he not need to stay over more than a few nights per week?
Are social services involved to provide any respite for you or direct payments for her at all?

yes it would help greatly but because of the stupid rule about having a boyfriend stay over x amount of nights iv not done that, so instead my own health suffers. i would gladly allow him to stay over so i can sleep but iv always been told boyfriends are not allowed to stay over, despite the fact he is her carer he is still my boyfriend and iv always tried to stay within the rules if he stayed day and night then he would be living here, he does sometimes stay over and then the next day leaves and im still having to look after her then all day so it was a choice of either day or night, i chose day as he is able to take her out places so i can sleep. social services put her at the highest level of care but only gave me 4 hours respite, its shocking!

I think you will be fine. It just seems a bit complex so they are checking. proper advice as someone said may put your mind at rest. Do you have a mobility vehicle at all?

I take it moving in together isn't an option?
If your finances are separate and he clearly has his own bills etc i can't see that they can find you as 'living together' hope it goes ok.

after all this it might just be easier if he does move in, i dont know how i can do that now, it will look like im guilty. i think ill just go for the interview and say im tired of the hassle and ill move him in, they havent done an investigation its just a statement they need so i guess i can make a new claim at any point. i dont have a mobility car as sadly i dont drive, but she gets high rate mobility. she could stay at his place but his flat is up a lot of steps and when he took her there she struggles and screamed, its not fair to force a disabled child up his steps.

thank you to everyone who has helped also i keep forgetting to thank people as im so stressed out.

does your bf not drive? can you not get it and he drives it?

yes he can drive iv never thought of that, would it not complicate the situation? i dont want them thinking we share legal stuff too :( this is what iv always been like, iv always tried to abide the rules and keep our matters separate.

He could not use it for his own personal use, just for your DD or to take her places. Maybe tell the compliance person you have chosen not to get the car as you didn't think it was right, makes you look like you are really trying to make this work.

yes i will, good idea again its the truth so i might aswell :)

Snailz what are they investigating? Your ESA claim as if you are a couple not a single household? Your housing benefit? Please don't worry your explanations are very clear - would it help to write out who claims what, and a weekly timetable ( rough version of what happens usually?) the only odd thing is you having a baby together, being a couple, but not living together.

yes i know :( the thing is we are always on and off but keep trying to make it work so yes i guess it looks odd. im not exactly sure what they are investigating, i think it will be esa and housing benefit?