Hi, I'm peterbb! Should I be worried about a telephone compliance interview?

peterbb

Hi. I have recently been awarded LCWRA on my universal credit claim. I’m due my second payment on the 25th . Tomorrow. Yesterday I received on my portal a message saying that I must have a phone interview of compliance. I don’t understand what this is for. Looking it up it could mean all sorts of things . Does this mean I’m under investigation for a particular reason. I spoke to some on the number given . All she could say was that it was nothing to worry about ,and worse case scenario was that I could have to pay some back. Is this standard to a new claim ? I suffer with anxiety,,and depression. Plus multiple illnesses hence the reason for claim. Should I be worried about this?

Cher_Alumni

Hello @peterbb

Telephone compliance interviews can happen for a number of reasons however it's natural for you to be worried on hearing about it. They are generally to check that people receiving benefits are meeting the conditions of their awards or have declared any change in circumstances. 

I would try and not worry if you can think of no obvious reason for it! Although I appreciate this is sometimes easier said than done. Do you have a date for the call?

Please let us know how you get on. Also just to make you aware, I've amended the title of this thread and moved it to our 'Universal Credit' category to help others spot it and offer their support.

calcotti

Danny123 said:

@peterbb dwp are stepping up checks because of all the fraud that took place in the pandemic and in general 

Although was no doubt some fraud but normal checks were not carried out during the checks so there were potentially a lot of errors. Retrospective checks are now being carried out.

poppy123456

Calcotti doesn’t like to be tagged because they have all notifications turned off. 

Danny123 said:

@Calcotti Oh gotcha  , do you mean because basic security checks were relaxed because of the pandemic  there just looking at them to make sure information is  correct 

Yes that’s exactly why they are doing checks now. 

calcotti

Danny123 said:

@Calcotti Oh gotcha  , do you mean because basic security checks were relaxed because of the pandemic  there just looking at them to make sure information is  correct 

Just so. Checks were suspended because of the volume of claims plus staff being off themselves. In fairness DWP generally did well to manage the number of claims in a reasonable timescale and they simply would not have been able to do if all the changes had been retained. In addition sending people to JobCentres to produce paperwork clearly wasn't practical when we were all being advised to isolate to reduce spread of covid.

Very important that you engage and supply any information requested. If you don't they may assume the UC award is incorrect and could then treat some or all of what you have received so far as an overpayment. (It's very questionable that they can lawfully do that but you don't want to get into a situation where we need to discuss that!)

Hopefully the check will go smoothly and won't cause you a problem. Typical things that might arise are, if you claimed while checks were suspended, and your housing costs were never checked you might now be asked to provide a copy of your tenancy agreement (normally housing costs would not be paid util the tenancy had been checked).

poppy123456

Danny123 said:

am I right in thinking that I have gone through the proper security checks ? 

Yes i would say you have and by that time all the checks were back in place as normal.

calcotti

Danny123 said:

am I right in thinking that I have gone through the proper security checks ? 

Sounds like it. We can only speculate to what has prompted the call.

Danny123 said:

..a lady who I believe was called a disability officer helped us with the claim and handled it with the dwp staff that are responsible for migrating people over..

Was the disability officer from the DWP or someone else?

poppy123456

I don't think they are checking every claim. I claimed UC for my daughter in January 2021 and haven't had any contact regarding any checks. She doesn't claim help with any rent though. I kept the fit notes on my computer just incase they ask for them at anytime.

calcotti

poppy123456 said:

I don't think they are checking every claim. I claimed UC for my daughter in January 2021 and haven't had any contact regarding any checks. ..

Whether the fact she was already 'in the system' due to her other claims makes any difference I don't know. However checking housing costs is obviously a significant part of a UC award for many.

rebel11

I hope they track down the 11 billion spent on 'dubious PPI' contracts, with no checks, sorry there were cheques, Government cheques to 'dubious companies.  

calcotti

rebel11 said:

I hope they track down the 11 billion spent on 'dubious PPI' contracts, with no checks, sorry there were cheques, Government cheques to 'dubious companies.  

Presumably you meant PPE.

rebel11

calcotti said:

rebel11 said:

I hope they track down the 11 billion spent on 'dubious PPI' contracts, with no checks, sorry there were cheques, Government cheques to 'dubious companies.  

Presumably you meant PPE.

Sorry yep, although PPI has been an even bigger scandal, something like £53bn mis sold by banks etc.