Home visit from a compliance officer, what's that about?

[ehidontgetit]

Hello
I got a letter today saying I'm getting a home visit from the Income Support Compliance Officer, I need proof of my id, passport etc?

What's this about? I am really worried!

I don't understand as IS have all my info?

of course yes, thats what i meant.

this has happened twice to me basically nasty ex wife of my on/of partner reported me saying he was living with me,WAS NOT but they had to follow up

basically if they visit its because of a tip off,if u get a letter asking you in to the ofices under caution they really DO have very good evidence on you and are looking at prosecution

looked into this myself but yours sounds like a bog standard malicious complaint that they have to look at,dont worry they have nothing on you but they have to follow up these alligations

to many of these are made on inoccent people,time and resources are wasted when in my opinion could be better spent

dont worry just routine to them,as i said they are bound to chase these up

I just had one show up at my door unannounaced. I have a 2 yr old and am 37 wks pregnant. I know why he showed up, I finally got fed up (after two years of non/mis payments of an informal CM agreement) and made an application to the CSA. He wrote me a letter and sent threatening txts saying that if I didn't callthem off he would call the benefits office on me. I've done nothing wrong so have nothing to worry about (not claiming anything I shouldn't, wouldn't dream of commiting benefit fraud) so ignored him. Anyway he went and contacted them anyway. Nice guy hey????

I had to show the guy everything. Even went through my daughters savings account book and was here for well over a hour. Think its disgusting that Ex's can use them as a form of intimidation against lone mums just trying to raise the children that they don't want to support.

Oh, and the reason why I know that he reported me is beaccuse I recently had a work focused interview at my job centre and was told that they wouldn't need to see me again until Dec 2010.

please help

I have recently recieved a letter stating i have to go to an interview under caution i am on income support i have 3 children an i'm currently in an on/off relationship with my youngests father he does come round to see his son and has stayed on occasions but the most worryin is that due to him having no fixed aboad and staying at different peoples homes he has used my address on occasions as a point of contact. I am very stressed about this interview as i feel if it was just to clarify a few things they would of done this through a home visit can anyone help please?

I have a friend who works in the benefits offfice. Compliance officers can visit your house for a number of reasons, most are just to clarify things but obviously they do look into benefit fraud too.

To OP do not worry about your ex stopping the odd night. You are legally allowed to have someone stay over 3 nights a week so the occasional weekend wont make much of a difference.

I have been on income support for 2 months, this month (Oct) being my third month. I received a letter from a compliance officer saying they are coming to my home on the 11th October and i need to show a number of things for proof of identity etc.... I am very worried. I phoned the woman up and she said she's got information and i need to sign a statment. What exactly could that mean?? Advice please!!!

I today received a letter from income support saying they want to come visit me on Wednesday.
But it came on the same day I got a letter saying I have a been accepted for a job after an interview.
So would be phoning on Monday to cancel income support anyway as I am starting work the following week.
Should I let them come out anyway??

It seems to be implied that someone has reported you for being on income support from the above posts.
I've only been on income support for 4 months - I've not told anyone I am on it.
My rent and bills are still being paid by ex instead of him paying child maintainance he stays over at weekends occasionally to be with the children. But not very often last time was about month and half ago.
He knows I am on income support and my parents and sister but no one else and I've checked with him and he has not told anyone.
Is it always because you've been reported or could it just be a matter of course. I didn't get the letter till today and office not open till Monday so I can't phone but now I've read all the above posts I'm very worried and anxious about it.

I got a visit from a Compliance Officer. We are just friends but we live together, I just moved in a couple of months ago because I could not get on housing. I wasnt getting enough money to get by every two weeks to be on my own.

They asked all sorts of questions like, who does the cooking? Who pays the rent? Do other people view you as a couple? Do you know anyone who thinks that you are a couple? Where do you keep your food, in separate places or together? Who does the housework?

It was pretty ridiculous, really. Then they tried to convince us that we should claim as a couple. So I am supposed to claim that I am part of a couple when all we are is friends?

I am in the middle of getting a divorce right now, and I talked to my Solicitor today about it, and just told her a little about this. She seemed in disbelief about it, sort of surprised. Then she said, "They are actually asking you to LIE, to claim you are a couple, when it isnt true".

Now is that true, or what? Yes it is! The Government is actually asking us to do what they consider as would be illegal if we ourselves did it, which is LIE. The only difference, is THEY are asking us to lie, so that they can claim OUR benefits, and keep us, the rightful owners of the benefits, from getting what is ours. I thought its US (the people who are on benefits) who are always accused of trying to defraud the Government and not the other way around?

I am just afraid of going out on my own, as I have never lived on my own before and am only getting £124 every 2 weeks. I dont think that I will be able to afford it, and if they decide to pull my money from me, I have a disability, and cannot work even though they claim I can. Its just a total nightmare!

So now they are trying to force me to become dependent upon some guy that I really barely even know, but had to go and live with because of what the Government did to me. Its horrible. This is jujst a way for the Government to be able to rob people of what is rightfully theirs. As soon as I got here, my friend and I applied for a two bedroom place. Good grief, I have been sleeping on the couch all this time for 2 months now. We are in NO WAY a "couple" but the Government just wants not to have to give us as much money, and that is all there is to it. Oh if you just knew the entire story, it would make you sick, honestly. I was in an abusive marriage and it was social services who forced me to be removed from my home. And I have a disability and am just basically left homeless, for all intents and purposes. Its just wicked.

have recently recieved a letter stating i have to go to an interview under caution...I am very stressed about this interview as i feel if it was just to clarify a few things they would of done this through a home visit can anyone help please?

An interview under caution (IUC) is entirely difference to a compliance interview. A compliance interview is mainly to check the facts - some new(ish) claims are selected at random for a compliance interview & also they take place when there is a suspicion that somethings not right. eg' OP is probably having a compliance visit because her ex has been seen coming & going & there is a suspicion that they are maintaining a common household.

I'm sorry, I don't want to worry you, but an IUC is the beginning of a fraud investigation. The interview will be taped and anything that you say may be used in a prosecution case & used in evidence against you. You are entitled to have a legal representative or a support worker with you. I suggest that you go to the CAB & ask them for advice and support. From what you describe (ex staying overnight, using your address etc) they have evidence that you are maintaining a common household. DWP Fraud Officers have similar powers to the Police & are able to get hold of bank statements, letters from employers etc as evidence that your ex is living with you.

As I say, you need legal advice & support in the same way as if the Police were interviewing you.

Before anyone asks, no I don't work for DWP, I'm a Social Worker - that's how I know about the benefits system

are just friends but we live together, I just moved in a couple of months ago because I could not get on housing. I wasnt getting enough money to get by every two weeks to be on my own.

Hello Strangethings

The DWP isn't interested in people's sleeping arrangements or really the nature of their relationship - what they're looking at is whether you & your friend are maintaining a common household. This is why they asked questions about who does the shopping/cooking etc & how you spend your leisure time.

As you have a disability, it sounds like you're not getting all the benefits that you may be entitled to. Have you claimined Disability Living Allowance (DLA)? I suggest that you contact your local CAB or Welfare Rights organisation & ask them to check that you are getting all that you should be.

Good luck

strangethings

actually its not about if you maintain a common household its if you are living togather as tho you are husband and wife.the nature of your relationship is very important its actually the only thing that is important.

if you are not you do not have to claim as a couple and if you do you are breaking the law the dwp staff member who told you that is wrong.
the reason for the questions they asked you are to work out if you do things as if you are a couple or not.
if you each pay for your own food/bills and are inderpendant of each other with stuff like future plans socializing and housework/meals ect then you are not living as a couple.
the reason why you wernt asked about your sleeping arangements is because they are not legally allowed to ask you this they are also no longer able to snoop around your house with out your consent.
if you go ahead and claim as a couple they are legally entitled to assume you have been part of a couple for as long as you have been there and can claw back payments made during this time,they can actually use a change to your claim (from single to couple) as evidence of fraud.

if you dont belive me go check out the dwp claiment compliance rules on their own website (they have to publish them now as part of foi regs) if you cant find them on that website go to taxcredits as both are now legally obliged to use the same rules.
do not change your claim unless you are actually living as a couple,you are perfectly entitled to claim as single people if you are single.

if you have problems with sorting this out give comunity legal advice a call on 0845 345 4345 mon-fri 9am to 8pm or sat till lunchtime they are actual solisiters they have a welfare benefits specialist team who will not only confirm what i have said but advocate on your behalf and they are funded by legal aid so to you its free,they can also check you are getting everything you should be.

I also have received a letter this morning but mine says that my award is now due to be reviewed but I don't know what that means could someone tell me

I also have received a letter this morning but mine says that my award is now due to be reviewed but I don't know what that means could someone tell me

Ok well they don't have the right to come to your home or Mitch through your cupboards do if you don't want to meet them there arrange to meet them at their offices which is far better because then they record it straight on to the computer in front of you.