Please help! I'm in such a mess. I have received a letter from the DWP saying that they are investigating for benefit fraud (failing to report a change in my household) and that I need to go for an IUC.
I've always lived at home with my Mum and still do (I already have a 3yr old). Last April I found out I was pregnant so my boyfriend (who lived over 50miles away) was going to come and move in with us at my Mum's until we could find somewhere together.
He stayed for a few weeks but we argued terribly so he went and stayed at his friend's house. We were quite on and off during my pregnancy. Then last November he says that he needs to get a phone upgrade but his bank details were still registered to his old address (he didn't have a fixed address) and he asked if he could change the address to my Mum's. My Mum instantly said yes as she just thought she was doing him a favour and nothing more. Besides this, we were talking about him moving in again anyway. A few weeks later I discover (by checking his old phone!) that he had been cheating on me. Needless to say, I was devastated and being heavily pregnant made it harder. He stayed at his friends house still but would visit often. So I then give birth to my son in Jan. My ex-Bf was there and afterwards we decided we would try and work through everything. Things were good initially but I struggled with trust so we were very on/off.
Aside from this, I must mention that my ex was so awful with money. Over the 2yrs we'd been together is helped him out financially and by this point he had owed me almost £4k. He had racked up so many debts and hidden them from everyone until one day (September 2014) when he spilled about how bad it was. Once again, I tried to help him. I borrowed money to bail him out and then set up payment plans on his debts and had them coming out of my account to make sure they got paid.
So, basically, we were not having a bf/gf relationship but I did still love him so continued with the arrangement that he would transfer money to me for his debts, money he owed me and child maintenance. He was so worried about spending his money he'd send more over to me and asked me to drip feed it back to him. We may not have been together but I still loved and cared for him so I agreed.
He has always very present as we have a child together and my older son is very close to him but he didn't have anywhere suitable to have them so was around a lot. Then the kids and I went through a phase of all being unwell (bronchiolitis for baby numerous times ending up in hospital, chicken pox, norovirus etc.)
I was really struggling so he was helping more. He would stay over to help with night feeds and sorting the kids out (only ever slept on the sofa). But as I said, we didn't have any romantic relationship.
So throughout this time I have never cancelled or amended my Tax Credits claim because I never saw him as a part of our household.
I'm absolutely petrified. I've never been deceitful in my life and I've just always tried to help people.
I work part-time and the kids go to nursery during that time.
I don't know what to do. Do I contact a solicitor? Do I just go to the interview and tell them exactly how it has been? :-'(