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Original poster

local service compliance visit (dwp)

26 replies

barnsleylass86 · 25/10/2014 13:57

Hi there dont know if any one can help me , but i need some advice i have recieved a letter today about having a home visit from the benefits compliance officer , i claim income support and have 2 children , i split from my ex a year ago , but he did come up every day to see them ,the past 2 months i have started seeing him again and he has been stopping a few times a week , coming up every day and taking the children to school etc , but were not living together , he has no fixed abode , hes been sleeping at his parents and friends since we split up , his family have supported him during this time as he doesnt work and doesnt claim benefits , am i doing somthing wrong ? obviously he doesnt contribute any money or anything as he doesnt have any and we dont live together , but as he stays a few times a week , and now ive recieved this letter im starting to think im doing wrong , ive searched google and it mentioned fraud, can i be commiting fraud , its not like we live together and claiming seperate or me claiming and working , i am really worried and confused , appreciate any help and sorry for the long winded post

OP posts:

InMySpareTime · 25/10/2014 14:04

If he sleeps at your house a few times a week, and has no other address, then you can surely see why DWP wants to check up on your "single parent" status?
A few times a week is almost half the time, and he's at your house every day. That means he's at your house a lot more than he's anywhere else. It's logical to assume that's his address.
Whatever your feelings are towards him, it looks very much like a two parent household from the outside.

Tiredemma · 25/10/2014 14:04

It does actually sound like you are living together. Maybe it would to your neighbours anyway. Where does he sleep on the nights that he isn't at yours?

NewEraNewMindset · 25/10/2014 14:08

The best advice is to tell the truth. I'm not sure exactly what the legal situation is in terms of staying overnight and claiming lone status. But I think if you start lying you will tie yourself in knots and it will most likely go against you than if you stated the situation as you have claimed above.

Are you planning in getting bank together? Can he support you if you did? I am sure it is pretty common to pretend to split up but actually remain in a relationship and claim as a single parent. Eveb if that isn't what you are doing they are probably coming round to check he isn't still living there.

NewEraNewMindset · 25/10/2014 14:09

*back together

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 25/10/2014 14:09

I can also see why the DWP are suspicious TBH.

However, if what you say is true, and your DP claims nothing in his own name then I can't see how you be found guilty of fraud. If you were both claiming as single people then yes, but just one of you claiming, no.

May I ask why your DP has no income? Fair enough if he has been unable to find work, but why is he happy to sponge off people rather than to claim the JSA he would be entitled to?

teenagetantrums · 25/10/2014 14:17

IF he is not working and claiming no benefits then it will be fine, tell the truth, you would get more money if you claimed as couple, cant see why they would worried.

Original poster

barnsleylass86 · 25/10/2014 14:35

thankyou for your replys , i can understand why it may seem that , the reason we split up in the first place was because he was constantly in and out of work , and when he was out of work wouldnt claim benefits , -he said he didnt want to fall in that catagory , he lives off his parents which is wrong , i was actually thinking about getting back together with him and having him move back in but he wouldnt be able to support us as he wont claim benefits and is still out of work , it may seem wrong but im trying to look out for the best interests in my family , obviously i thought i werent doing anything wrong but all i can do is tell them the truth which i will be doing on tuesday , as in the last 2 replys as hes not actually claiming or working it shouldnt be classed as fraud should it ?

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Original poster

barnsleylass86 · 25/10/2014 14:37

and sorry i forgot to say to the person asking me where he stays , he stays at his parnets and at friends he never gives me specifics as he says it doesnt concern me

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InfinitySeven · 25/10/2014 14:46

Yes, it's still fraud even if he's not claiming. If it looks like he lives with you, and you're saying that he doesn't, that constitutes fraud.

InfinitySeven · 25/10/2014 14:46

Where does his post go?

Original poster

barnsleylass86 · 25/10/2014 14:53

it seems as though im in for a lot of trouble then , all i can do is be honest with them and then accept what ever punishment i get given , this is the first and last time i will ever claim benefit again as its just too much hassel , despite what people may think as well i didnt do this intentionally it has been a genuine mistake ,thankyou for your help

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Original poster

barnsleylass86 · 25/10/2014 14:54

sorry his post goes to his mums , he has one catalogue that comes to my address still as i agreed to pay it as i was the one that ordered out of it when we were together

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InfinitySeven · 25/10/2014 15:01

If you're open and honest with them, they'll be understanding.

The problems only arise if you lie - they'll have statements and observations on how often he has stayed, etc, so if you lie they will know, and they get really irritated by that.

Go in and be honest. They'll then work out whether your entitlement would have been different if you had claimed honestly, and if you've been overpaid, you'll have to pay that back. Your benefits would then reduce to how much you are entitled too with him living with you.

Best of luck.

Original poster

barnsleylass86 · 25/10/2014 15:10

thankyou for your advice infinityseven , ,i shall post on tuesday to update everyone what has happened so that it might help others in my situation

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Fcukfifa · 25/10/2014 15:19

Is it just a home visit or is at the jobcentre under caution?

If it's a home visit then it's usually just to clear up any discrepancies but if it is under caution then you can take a representative with you and usually means they have some sort of evidence.

I can understand why they would need some answers about your current circumstances, it does sound a little strange but all you can do is tell them the truth and see where they go from there

3pigsinblanketsandasausagerole · 25/10/2014 15:22

The good thing is his post goes to another address
I think you need to say that is where he lives not he has no fixed abode

Original poster

barnsleylass86 · 25/10/2014 15:30

yes its a home visit thats taking place it says i need to having id and bank statements , will i be ok to just print out the bank statements as i havnt got any paper ones ?i feel sick i wish they were coming today so i can sort it now

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Greengrow · 25/10/2014 17:54

Could he mov3e back home, mind the children all day and you go back to full time work?

NewEraNewMindset · 25/10/2014 17:59

Barnsley the post going to another residence is good. I assume you also have separate finances?

Original poster

barnsleylass86 · 25/10/2014 22:59

yes we have seperate finances , the bills are all in my name the only thing that comes in his name is the rent account that i have been telling the council to change since we split and also a catalogue thats in his name that still comes to my address as i agreed to pay it as it was me that used to order out of it , other than that everything is my name , he could move back home to watch the kids while i work , been reading the letter all day and been so worried didnt realise that the appointment is for the 4th of november not tuesday , i wonder if they will let me move it forward as i cant cope thinking about it for 2 weeks , does anyone know where i stand as far as him having no income at all , as i dont think ive been doing anything wrong as he doesnt work or claim benefits so i cant see me being over paid , sorry to keep it going but i cnt let it rest. thanx again

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wannabestressfree · 25/10/2014 23:07

I can't see how you can say 'I will never claim again it's too much hassle' you don't work? How do you propose feeding and clothing your children?
Quite frankly it is your ex taking the piss. If he won't stick at a job he needs to grow up and support his children, not flit in and out and say it's nothing to do with you where he stays. It's feckless and irresponsible. If he wants a relationship with you then I would suggest you use the meeting to sort out your joint claim.

Original poster

barnsleylass86 · 26/10/2014 00:07

obviously i wouldnt ever put my children through anything like that , i actually gave up my job to look after the children , as he worked at the time , in reality my job was a lot more stable and i shouldnt have gave it up . ive always worked and never had to claim benefit before i was purley stating that its too much hassle claiming benefits and if i dint have t claim them again i wouldnt

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pottypeppa77 · 26/10/2014 00:14

I had a compliance officer home visit whilst I was claiming income support and spent two weeks worrying myself sick in the run up to the visit even though I didn't think I'd done anything wrong. It turned out to be a storm in a tea cup and purely routine. She was in the house less than 5 minutes and was even more nervous than I was. I was asked - if I had a boyfriend, did he stay over, was there any reason we didn't live together and did I have any savings. I then had to sign a statement and she went.

RJnomore · 26/10/2014 00:18

Ok firstly don't panic.

If your finances are separate and you can prove it, all his bills etc are to another address, he is registerd for council tax to another address, etc, that should be evidence of living separately.

You are where you are. Don't take him back when he's fucking about though. Everyone deserves better, tell him to grow up and either get a job or look after his kids two you can.

Original poster

barnsleylass86 · 26/10/2014 00:31

thankyou for your replys

even his own mums told me not to take him back as hell never change , its hard because ive never stopped loving him , i know the council were sending letters to his mums address for him for when he got us into debt with our council tax , its been sorted now as i was receiving the same letters and started a standing order to repay it. hopefully things will work out all i can do is be honest , still cant help but worry going to ring them on monday to see if i can fetch the visit forward , is it routine for them to come out to see you as the other threads i read people had been called into the offices

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