Mum went to the bank because they froze her account due to going way too far into her overdraft. The bank went through her account and told her she hasn't received benefit for two months. My brother, who lives there, has his benefits paid into her account and as she hadn't been checking she just assumed there was money.
So she went home and got onto the benefits people and they said it's because she's no longer entitled to claim. She asked why because as far as she's concerned nothing has changed. They said "because you're no longer UK resident"! They explained that she'd called them two months ago and said she had moved abroad. For confidentiality reasons they can't tell her where she's moved to.
They've put her to priority to get benefits reinstated but various answers between them all of 5 days and a month to 6 weeks. They're also only going to repay her 30 days from when she told them she's still in the UK.
The benefits are for my parents, sister and four children with three lots of disability and carer. Yes it's a full house as my brother also has a disabled child there.
She's been told to call the police by the agency and I've told her to but she says what's the point there's no crime.
My brother has recently split up with his wife and it got messy with my mum (trying not to go into more identifying details than I am probably already doing) and the ex said she would get her own back. Whoever pretended to be Mum had to know enough details to pass security which she would have and the threat came at the same time as the call. I know it's circumstantial until investigated but it does point to her doing it.
So legal question: has a crime been committed? should she report?
benefits question: can they really only back pay a month?