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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:
Candymay · 17/10/2022 07:46

PaisleyP · 17/10/2022 07:44

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

3? 4?

PinkButtercups · 17/10/2022 07:47

Hmm, sorry you suffer with anxiety as I do to but it sounds like you've fiddled the system and it may have caught up with you.

As I read it I took it as he 'lives' with his parents so you get more benefits but probably actually doesn't live there does he? He lives with you but on paper he's at his parents.

Could be wrong but it seems very suspicious.

PaisleyP · 17/10/2022 08:06

@cc1997 that's not what the poster said which I was replying too 🥰.

Anon778833 · 17/10/2022 08:14

Wow, you people are nasty. The OP has already said that she’s anxious and then you’re telling her she’s committing benefit fraud.

If he lives with his parents then presumably he is not contributing to your household bills? So you’re not doing anything wrong. He’s paying CM. Because you don’t live together and have separate finances. If you have plans to move in together then that is fine and you can change your information when he’s moving in.

If all of his post goes to his parents house then nobody will be accusing you of benefit fraud.

The only thing I could think is, if you claim carer’s allowance they might want to ask about how much you’ve been in hospital because you have to be caring for 35 hours a week to get it.

SummerBummers · 17/10/2022 08:30

I felt on dodgy ground before my partner moved in and he was still paying bills at his parents’ and only occasionally contributing to the household by buying some food or whatever.

Heavenknows22 · 17/10/2022 08:34

Is he paying bills at his parents’ house? ie can he show he lives there?

mobear · 17/10/2022 08:44

It sounds like he lives with you and contributes to your household substantially and you’re trying to create a backstory as to why this isn’t the case.

If you are genuine I would suggest gathering as much evidence as you can that this is not the case (evidence he pays rent and/ or bills at his parents, etc).

Anon778833 · 17/10/2022 08:46

What are you taking about? It doesn’t sound like he lives with her. He pays CM for the kids which is what non resident parents are supposed to do.

It is not benefit fraud to have future plans to move in with someone when the time is right.

mobear · 17/10/2022 08:52

@Xaviera I was clear. Whether genuine or not, for him to move in and for her to stop claiming benefits in advance of a compliance interview will look odd.

Again, I would suggest gathering as much evidence as possible that your DP was in fact living elsewhere.

knittingaddict · 17/10/2022 08:54

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 😂.

Yes, but do you then claim benefits as a single person when you aren't? Benefits aren't there to fund an unconventional lifestyle.

knittingaddict · 17/10/2022 08:59

Anon778833 · 17/10/2022 08:14

Wow, you people are nasty. The OP has already said that she’s anxious and then you’re telling her she’s committing benefit fraud.

If he lives with his parents then presumably he is not contributing to your household bills? So you’re not doing anything wrong. He’s paying CM. Because you don’t live together and have separate finances. If you have plans to move in together then that is fine and you can change your information when he’s moving in.

If all of his post goes to his parents house then nobody will be accusing you of benefit fraud.

The only thing I could think is, if you claim carer’s allowance they might want to ask about how much you’ve been in hospital because you have to be caring for 35 hours a week to get it.

Of course the op is doing something wrong.

I'm a big supporter of benefits. My adult daughter couldn't survive without them, but this has benefit fraud written all over it and the op knows it.

Heavenknows22 · 17/10/2022 09:00

If the boyfriend pays op a ‘considerable amount’ maybe it’s covering a lot of the household bills which would look like he lives there. Are any of the bills in his name? (Op not come back I know so it’s hard to get the whole picture.)

teathyme · 17/10/2022 09:03

DWP have guidelines as to what constitutes 'living together'. They will ask how much time he spends at your house, do you go on days out together, does he pay any bills in your house. Are your friends/family aware that you both live separately (neighbours can be asked what they perceive the relationship to be).
You will need to prove that he lives elsewhere by bills in his name, car registered to different address etc.

Anon778833 · 17/10/2022 09:06

knittingaddict · 17/10/2022 08:59

Of course the op is doing something wrong.

I'm a big supporter of benefits. My adult daughter couldn't survive without them, but this has benefit fraud written all over it and the op knows it.

Show quote history

I don’t see how that’s true. There is nowhere near enough information in the post for you to be able to make that assumption. The OP has gone and I’m not surprised!

Tbh it sounds more to do with the hospital visits than anything else.

Piffle11 · 17/10/2022 09:25

I haven't worked for DWP for over a decade, but I'm pretty sure that these days it's not all about living together… It's whether you have a partner who is contributing to your household. In this case, the Op says she has a boyfriend and that he pays child maintenance.

The thing is, is this CM through the CMS? Or does he just give her the money? Because if it is the latter, then it looks as though he is contributing to her household. His living somewhere else is irrelevant.

I know of someone who has had a partner for over 20 years. They have never lived together, but have two children together. She was claiming tax credits as a single parent. She was prosecuted.

LumpyandBumps · 17/10/2022 09:27

If he genuinely lives with his parents then there is no problem.
Whilst arranging your circumstances so that you can qualify for benefits ( if that is what you have done) may be frowned upon by some, your claim is within the rules.
I used to work for the DWP and they will probably have already checked things like which address he uses for his car and insurance, GP surgery, address and next of kin details for work. They may have also checked things like emergency contacts for school, etc.
If, at this stage, they are asking you to attend an interview with a compliance officer, rather than a recorded interview under caution, there is a chance that they will just close their case if you terminate your claim, but no one can tell you in advance if that will be done.
In practical terms there is little way of compelling you to attend an interview if you are not still getting benefits, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the issue goes away.
I appreciate that this is a stressful time. I wish you well.

grayhairdontcare · 17/10/2022 09:40

You are scamming the system to financially benefit.
You know you are.
They know you are.
It's all just a case of proof now.

Vaccine001 · 17/10/2022 09:42

The Tory voters are out in force tonight.

grayhairdontcare · 17/10/2022 09:43

@Vaccine001 or people who pay their way and no rip off the benefits system for financial gain and take money from those that need it are!

knittingaddict · 17/10/2022 09:46

Vaccine001 · 17/10/2022 09:42

The Tory voters are out in force tonight.

Is that all you've got?

You're wrong in my case.

knittingaddict · 17/10/2022 09:47

And I fully support benefits. In fact I don't think they are generous enough, but I'm not going to condone cheating the system either.

Gnr24 · 17/10/2022 10:07

I know it's such a worry but just try to collect as much evidence that your Dp is living at his parents.
They will want proof of bills in your name, bank statements etc
If your Dp has anything registered to your address, you'll have to explain why, maybe he didn't have a permanent address and had his mail sent to your address for safety reasons.
It's possible that they have been watching your address, therfore make sure you have answers for this , such as you need help with kids as you've been unwell.

I wouldn't move him in now it will look too suspicious and they will still go ahead with the investigation,
Just get this sorted and if it works out for you think about moving him in a few months down the line

Good luck

viques · 17/10/2022 10:16

Anon778833 · 17/10/2022 08:14

Wow, you people are nasty. The OP has already said that she’s anxious and then you’re telling her she’s committing benefit fraud.

If he lives with his parents then presumably he is not contributing to your household bills? So you’re not doing anything wrong. He’s paying CM. Because you don’t live together and have separate finances. If you have plans to move in together then that is fine and you can change your information when he’s moving in.

If all of his post goes to his parents house then nobody will be accusing you of benefit fraud.

The only thing I could think is, if you claim carer’s allowance they might want to ask about how much you’ve been in hospital because you have to be caring for 35 hours a week to get it.

I’d be anxious too if I had been fiddling the system and was now on the verge of being found out.

Anon778833 · 17/10/2022 10:35

The thing is, is this CM through the CMS? Or does he just give her the money? Because if it is the latter, then it looks as though he is contributing to her household. His living somewhere else is irrelevant.

That’s utter rubbish. Most of the stuff on this thread is rubbish, actually. The CMS encourages people to sort out how much will be paid amongst themselves, now . They deter you from involving them by now charging the resident parent £50 to open a case.

AutumnDaysConkers · 17/10/2022 11:06

If he is your boyfriend, father of your children and he is giving you money then they will consider that you are together as a 'family' unit.

If he was not your boyfriend that would change things. But you are a family unit even if he does not live there as you are together.