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Original poster

Dwp compliance interview

109 replies

Octopus3001 · 14/10/2022 22:55

Hi I got a letter stating I need to have a compliance interview with dwp. I rang the number on the letter to ask what it was about and told it was just to check I'm still eligible for the benefits I receive ect. My boyfriend and I have 2 kids and he pays child maintenance which is a considerable amount. I can understand how this would look questionable and look like rent rather than CM. But he still lives with his parents.

I suffer terribly with anxiety and obviously this has set it off even more so. After a long discussion we have decided it would be best if he moved in, due to my health. This letter come after me being in hospital for two weeks. 8 admissions since January.

If he moves in and i cancel all my benefits, would I still have this interview? Would it look even more suspicious and warrant further investigation?

Thanks so much for your help in advance!

OP posts:
Tootels · 14/10/2022 22:59

It does sound dodgy. If they are his kids why doesn't he live with you?

Titterofwit · 14/10/2022 23:07

Child maintenance isn't taken into account for Universal credit at all. So unless there is something suspicious going on in your lives it could well be a simple benefits check .

ploed · 14/10/2022 23:13

I'm confused and image DWP are too. Child maintenance is something ex's pay for their children. If he is your boyfriend and you have two children together, and he contributes financially to their care you shouldn't be claiming as a single parent. It looks like you are saying he lives elsewhere just in order to claim.

Pumpkinsbeinghitbyfallingapples · 14/10/2022 23:19

So you have children with your boyfriend, and he pays a 'considerable amount' towards their upkeep and he is happy living to move in with you...

But he hasn't been because you were claiming benefits?

I'm literally the last person to benefits bash but this does come across that you were playing the system unless there is a whole load of backstory here

mrsfollowill · 14/10/2022 23:22

Why don't you live together as you have 2 children, and you are still a couple?

Stevie6 · 14/10/2022 23:32

They will still interview you, and will probably question why he has moved in since they contacted you

MeowMeowPowerRangers · 14/10/2022 23:34

Why are you claiming as a single parent when he's contributing to your household?

I don't blame them calling you in they've probably been investigating you for some time.

Pixiedust1234 · 14/10/2022 23:37

I'm sorry you haven't been well but honestly, this has benefit fraud written all over it

HouseBook · 14/10/2022 23:38

They are investigating what has happened, not what happens next. There is no avoiding this.

NameChange329435 · 14/10/2022 23:44

I had this a few years ago. I was told they have to establish whether we were in a relationship/acting as if we were a family, even if not living together. I was asked if any of the bills were in ex's name, who pays them, if he gets mail delivered to the house, where he lived, if we went shopping together, how often he was at the house, questions about his car. I answered everything truthfully. I was told I was going to be given 7 days to let them know if I wanted make a change of circumstances, I said no and they were satisfied with my answers that we were not in a relationship.

Babyroobs · 15/10/2022 00:04

How often does he stay over ? Do you holiday together, eat together etc. You must be able to see why they are suspicious. Can you provide evidence he lives with his parents, is his car insurance registered there, is he on the electoral role. You must be able to see why they would query this when you are still together and have kids together? You are no doubt getting extra benefits as you are a single parent and then extra maintenance on top and he gets to have his wages too ?

MightyOaks · 15/10/2022 00:14

Octopus3001 · 14/10/2022 22:55

Hi I got a letter stating I need to have a compliance interview with dwp. I rang the number on the letter to ask what it was about and told it was just to check I'm still eligible for the benefits I receive ect. My boyfriend and I have 2 kids and he pays child maintenance which is a considerable amount. I can understand how this would look questionable and look like rent rather than CM. But he still lives with his parents.

I suffer terribly with anxiety and obviously this has set it off even more so. After a long discussion we have decided it would be best if he moved in, due to my health. This letter come after me being in hospital for two weeks. 8 admissions since January.

If he moves in and i cancel all my benefits, would I still have this interview? Would it look even more suspicious and warrant further investigation?

Thanks so much for your help in advance!

If you GENUINELY do not live together and he GENUINELY does not sleep over more than 3 nights per week then do not tell them you're in a relationship. The reason I say this, is because I was once asked by UC (I'm severely disabled before anyone judges me), I got asked if I had a boyfriend. I told them yes I do but we don't live together and haven't been together long. (I'm widowed so was very unsure!) They said regardless of us not living together, I would have to make a joint claim with him. He was in the RAF! I had only been dating him 3 months and only saw him once a month - sometimes less! But nope, as I had a boyfriend they were adamant that he would be contributing to my household and therefore I could not claim! I had to go to a tribunal! It even got picked up by a documentary production team (not sharing which one of course).
I did end up getting compensation but had no income for 6 months over that.

MightyOaks · 15/10/2022 00:16

ploed · 14/10/2022 23:13

I'm confused and image DWP are too. Child maintenance is something ex's pay for their children. If he is your boyfriend and you have two children together, and he contributes financially to their care you shouldn't be claiming as a single parent. It looks like you are saying he lives elsewhere just in order to claim.

Not necessarily. My late husband paid it when he moved into his parents house temporarily to care for them.

Trees6 · 15/10/2022 00:21

Why does he live with his parents?

They are trying to establish whether this is a scam setup or not. This is the question they’ll ask, amongst others. If you’re legit you should be ok. Try not to worry OP.

Babyroobs · 15/10/2022 00:23

MightyOaks · 15/10/2022 00:14

If you GENUINELY do not live together and he GENUINELY does not sleep over more than 3 nights per week then do not tell them you're in a relationship. The reason I say this, is because I was once asked by UC (I'm severely disabled before anyone judges me), I got asked if I had a boyfriend. I told them yes I do but we don't live together and haven't been together long. (I'm widowed so was very unsure!) They said regardless of us not living together, I would have to make a joint claim with him. He was in the RAF! I had only been dating him 3 months and only saw him once a month - sometimes less! But nope, as I had a boyfriend they were adamant that he would be contributing to my household and therefore I could not claim! I had to go to a tribunal! It even got picked up by a documentary production team (not sharing which one of course).
I did end up getting compensation but had no income for 6 months over that.

Show quote history

There is no such thing as the three night rule. The DWP have criteria that they look at to decide if you should be claiming as a couple but number of nights is not specified.

Babyroobs · 15/10/2022 00:25

MightyOaks · 15/10/2022 00:16

Not necessarily. My late husband paid it when he moved into his parents house temporarily to care for them.

Show quote history

And did you claim as a single person for a temporary move? !!

Preeeettyprettygood · 15/10/2022 00:30

I work for DWP and I can see as others exactly why you're having a compliance interview.
I assume he had proof he lives with his parents?
Why does he not live with you and the children?
The fact you admit here he pays a considerable amount of maintenance baffles me, let alone the fact you'd be receiving your benefits and his income untouched. What's the back story? As I wouldn't be giving it anymore ideas

Therealjudgejudy · 15/10/2022 00:37

Sounds like benefit fraud

Babyroobs · 15/10/2022 00:38

The thing is op, they will consider how much time you spend together as a family. Presumably he is at your place a considerable amount of time unless he leaves you to parent alone? If he spends nights at your house, you eat together, parent together, holiday together, cook meals together, you know all those things that family life involves, then you surely do live together? It would be easier to prove you were single if he paid rent or mortgage on his own place but living at his parents, well I guess you may be ok if he can prove address, bills etc registered there. I expect though with 2 kids together presumably over a number of years, it's going to look like he says he lives at his parents so you can continue to claim as single and get more benefits. It's the oldest trick in the book, you won't be the first under investigation. But as others have said it could just be a routine check, what exactly does it say on the letter?

SummerBummers · 15/10/2022 00:45

I don’t think it matters if you cancel your claim now. They’ll still want to investigate any historic “fraud” so will probably still want to see you.

NotJustAnybody · 15/10/2022 00:54

I think moving him in will make things look worse for you plus I don't think it will stop their current investigation as they will be looking at back payments.
You have to convince them that you are two entirely separate households.
If he's on a really good wage and paying 'considerable' maintenance in line with that, then you've nothing to fear.

Derbee · 15/10/2022 01:00

Sounds like you’ve been scamming the system and they’re wanting to check details? The fact that you’re changing what you’re doing, since thinking you’re being investigated, says it all really doesn’t it?

caringcarer · 15/10/2022 01:02

If you are still in a relationship and he is paying you money for children you are not parenting alone. It sounds like you are committing benefit fraud.

Babyroobs · 15/10/2022 01:05

caringcarer · 15/10/2022 01:02

If you are still in a relationship and he is paying you money for children you are not parenting alone. It sounds like you are committing benefit fraud.

But if they genuinely live separately it is not benefit fraud, as child maintenance money does not affect benefits at all. It's odd what is allowed but I honestly think nothing will come of it. It will be a hard one for the DWP to call I think ! Where do the kids go during all your hospital admissions op - does your boyfriend move into your home to care for them?

UserLoserInTheBoozer · 15/10/2022 01:12

This is why it's so difficult to to make benefits fair.

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