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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:
forevercooking · 15/10/2022 01:17

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?

I'd be fucked in this case. Separated but coparent well. He's been gone ages and lives with his mum but has never changed anything over. He's far too lazy. He still pays some bills here as he says it's for benefit of the kids (think sky bill etc - which included our phone bills) I still own his car as it is in my name. We still make an effort to have family days out for the kids and he comes round here to see them some afternoons after school as he lives 30 mins away and i live opposite the school.
I can absolutely see why DWP are suspicious but if this was me in this scenario I'd have the book thrown at me 😳

Babyroobs · 15/10/2022 01:19

forevercooking · 15/10/2022 01:17

I'd be fucked in this case. Separated but coparent well. He's been gone ages and lives with his mum but has never changed anything over. He's far too lazy. He still pays some bills here as he says it's for benefit of the kids (think sky bill etc - which included our phone bills) I still own his car as it is in my name. We still make an effort to have family days out for the kids and he comes round here to see them some afternoons after school as he lives 30 mins away and i live opposite the school.
I can absolutely see why DWP are suspicious but if this was me in this scenario I'd have the book thrown at me 😳

Show quote history

Yes I can see why you'd be worried- far better to put all bills in your name and him just pay you extra maintenance to cover the bills he wants to cover.

PaisleyP · 15/10/2022 01:22

If you don't live together and he can prove he lives elsewhere and pays the bills for himself and that address. Then no it isn't benefit fraud.
You need to declare the child maintenance though as it doesn't reduce your entitlement at all as it's not deductible by UC.
If you chose not to live together it isn't any one else's business. There are people who are married but chose to go home of a night time, it isn't down to anyone else to judge.

Obviously you may have a hard time proving all of this but it isn't actually fraud what you've done, as you don't live together and he's not contributing to your bills or household is he? It's simply a relationship between the 2 of you and he pays for his children?

Nat6999 · 15/10/2022 01:37

I had the same thing with my late dp, one of exh family reported me, late dp had his own flat that he rented, he paid council tax & all his own bills & I was able to prove this, plus he lived 25 miles away. I paid all my own bills, had my own home, we had nothing joint. They closed the case after the phone call. I wouldn't call him your partner to them, just the father of your children, take all the emotional connection out of the equation, you can receive as much maintenance as you want, it doesn't affect your benefits. Late dp & I loved each other to bits but we would have ended up killing each other if we had lived together 7 days a week, we both needed our own space

Babyroobs · 15/10/2022 01:37

I would try not to worry op. It could just be a jealous neighbour who sees you significantly better off by living apart and has maliciously reported you. If this is the case DWP see it all the time and likely nothing will come of it. It's just that they have to investigate.

Babyroobs · 15/10/2022 01:38

Nat6999 · 15/10/2022 01:37

I had the same thing with my late dp, one of exh family reported me, late dp had his own flat that he rented, he paid council tax & all his own bills & I was able to prove this, plus he lived 25 miles away. I paid all my own bills, had my own home, we had nothing joint. They closed the case after the phone call. I wouldn't call him your partner to them, just the father of your children, take all the emotional connection out of the equation, you can receive as much maintenance as you want, it doesn't affect your benefits. Late dp & I loved each other to bits but we would have ended up killing each other if we had lived together 7 days a week, we both needed our own space

But he is her partner and they will likely already know this ?

Lbnc2021 · 15/10/2022 14:50

If you’re genuinely living apart then I don’t think they can do anything but well done for playing the system so well 👏🏻

Tootels · 15/10/2022 14:59

Tootels · 14/10/2022 22:59

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

I think I'm projecting.

My DH lives in Scotland due to work. We are in England. I cannot work due to several illnesses. DH pays for two households. I wouldn't dream of claiming as a single person as I'm not. We have struggled for years financially and it's getting worse.

PaisleyP · 15/10/2022 17:43

Some people aren't ready to live together and it's ok. Just because you have children and are in a relationship it doesn't mean you should just live together! I love my own space maybe I'm just selfish 😂.

Babyroobs · 15/10/2022 18:38

PaisleyP · 15/10/2022 17:43

Some people aren't ready to live together and it's ok. Just because you have children and are in a relationship it doesn't mean you should just live together! I love my own space maybe I'm just selfish 😂.

Not selfish as long as others aren't paying for it I guess.

Heavenknows22 · 15/10/2022 18:45

When you say in your op that he pays a lot of child maintenance, I thought you meant he had other children he pays for. If it’s to you, yes it is a bit of an unusual set up.

I would imagine the interview would go ahead even if the situation has changed recently.

I had a compliance interview on the phone once and I was worried as I didn’t know what they were looking for. I just provided all the information which they asked for in advance and it was fine and my benefits didn’t change.

PaisleyP · 15/10/2022 19:00

@Babyroobs But she isn't doing anything wrong. Just because she's on benefits and he contributes it still shouldn't make them forced to live together. I don't think it's selfish I dunno.

AdInfinitum12 · 15/10/2022 19:50

PaisleyP · 15/10/2022 19:00

@Babyroobs But she isn't doing anything wrong. Just because she's on benefits and he contributes it still shouldn't make them forced to live together. I don't think it's selfish I dunno.

They aren't being forced to live together. Child maintenance is for separated parents. If they're still together then all he's doing is contributing to the household/family in which case that's very different and the OP may find herself in trouble claiming as a single parent.

TigerRag · 16/10/2022 14:03

PaisleyP · 15/10/2022 17:43

Some people aren't ready to live together and it's ok. Just because you have children and are in a relationship it doesn't mean you should just live together! I love my own space maybe I'm just selfish 😂.

Not read to live together but the relationship is serious enough for 2 kids together! Yup makes complete sense.

DamnUserName21 · 16/10/2022 19:44

So he is paying a 'considerable amount' but still lives with parents (officially, at least) even though you're in a relationship have two children together. Yeah, not suspicious at all.

Loachworks · 16/10/2022 22:10

I'd be very careful not to lie as you do not know what evidence they have that you are a couple who are financial linked, other than child support. Is he paying anything else? Does he stay at your house?
Even your OP (and the sudden willingness to live together) after having two children together sounds really suspicious.

Redburnett · 16/10/2022 22:49

You need to be very clear about what you say about the circumstances as others have said. You may be asked to repay benefits if it is decided you were not entitled. Worse still you could be charged with fraud, a serious offence. If your situation is genuinely as you describe then you need to think and plan very carefully how you respond to the interview questions. There is plenty of advice on the thread.

oviraptor21 · 16/10/2022 22:57

The guidance states "living together as a married couple". If you're not living together you will be fine.

Athenajm80 · 16/10/2022 23:30

"Living together as a married couple" isn't as simple as it sounds. For instance, your husband could work on oil rigs and you only see him once every few months for a week at a time. He still contributes to the household but doesn't really live there as most of the time he's on the rigs. Your wife could be a long distance lorry driver, in the army, or like a PP you have two homes for reasons of work etc.

It's complex and not as easy as "does he stay x nights a week".

Tootels · 17/10/2022 06:18

Athenajm80 · 16/10/2022 23:30

"Living together as a married couple" isn't as simple as it sounds. For instance, your husband could work on oil rigs and you only see him once every few months for a week at a time. He still contributes to the household but doesn't really live there as most of the time he's on the rigs. Your wife could be a long distance lorry driver, in the army, or like a PP you have two homes for reasons of work etc.

It's complex and not as easy as "does he stay x nights a week".

This is my situation as mentioned above.

Candymay · 17/10/2022 06:40

How can you claim benefits as a single parent if you have the other parent supporting you and the children financially? This sounds so wrong. Is this how UC works? Anyone can claim regardless of maintenance payments they are receiving?
It strikes me as selfish to expect others to finance your lifestyle choices. I’m sure lots of couples would be happier having an extra home for one parent to live in sometimes. They just can’t afford it though. And they shouldn’t have to cover any of your costs either as it sounds like you are doing ok.

asdasult · 17/10/2022 06:54

Maintenance isn't included because when it was so many non resident parents (usually men) didn't pay it that resident parents (usually women) and children were in penury.

cc1997 · 17/10/2022 07:40

I'm guessing he doesn't pay any bills in his name at his parents house & he's just down to live there because it gets you more benefits. He also pays you a large amount of maintenance, but which conveniently covers rent.

I'm guessing he has plenty of sleepovers with you all as well.

Come on love. I hope no one at the benefit office buys this crap.

PaisleyP · 17/10/2022 07:44

@TigerRag I hardly think having 2 kids together signifies the meaning of a relationship tbh

cc1997 · 17/10/2022 07:45

PaisleyP · 17/10/2022 07:44

@TigerRag I hardly think having 2 kids together signifies the meaning of a relationship tbh

OP says "boyfriend" which kind of does indicate a relationship 😂