DWP investigation

lizptsd

I'm trying to look after myself and we have friends but it's been hard on us and a total invasion of our privacy. This all because someone malicious had something against me

I hope you are right about our documents.

FeistyPigeon

DWP investigation

lizptsd

7 Nov 2024

I had a scheduled Compliance interview yesterday with the DWP. My Mum died in March and her property was held in a trust that I was not part of and did not benifit from. Someone called the fraud helpline and told them I had money in a trust from Mum's estate. This is a spiteful vindictive act and a deformation of character. The interviewer accused me of having the money until he clearly understood my distress and now we have to send the trust documents and our bank statements. The call was anonymous but clearly someone who knew about the trust. It has severely affected my mental health and it's hard to have been accused of being a liar by the DWP. He said he was only doing his job but the way he did it was very distressing and I'm not sure whether I should complain. Whoever did this clearly aimed this at me not knowing how it would affect us as a couple.

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Put in a complaint lizptsd, you've got nothing to lose and they tend to sit up and take notice when they realise you're being serious. There's a very useful page on this by Shelter here:

How to complain about universal credit - Shelter England

Don't forget to mention how it made you feel, loss of dignity etc, it's all legitimate grounds for complaint.

If you try to do it online (the easiest way) and find you run out of space for words, use bullet points. That will also make it easier for them to focus on the main points.

I'm going through the fraud office system myself at the moment, everyone is apparently. What I can say is make you feel like you are a criminal and you need to prove your innocence. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they get a bonus for every person they can find "guilty". Also bear in mind they aren't correct sometimes. Eg I was accused of not declaring a grant by a charity even though you don't need to declare this as it's not classed as income and doesn't affect your benefit. The officer even told me that charity payments should be deducted from your benefit as its like a wage. So question when something doesn't seem right, they might just be plain wrong and so keen to find something at fault, they'll say almost anything to prove your "guilt".

lizptsd

Thank you for the link. I'm so sorry you're going through the same thing. Surely a charity grant doesn't count.

We are going to complain and going to call the CAB tomorrow we want to check about the confidentiality situation especially as the trust documents are legal. Plus we want to have some support during any further interviews.

FeistyPigeon

Hi Lizptsd, thanks for getting back. Just for the record for anyone who reads this, charity grants certainly don't count when calculating your benefit. It's a good example that just because these people sound as though they're certain about something, doesn't mean they're right. If something sounds odd, challenge it + seek confirmation from elsewhere, such as citizens advice.

I think for you Lizptsd, getting help from citizens advice is the best way to go, they have stacks of experience dealing with these sorts of issues + DWP know they can't be messed around. I'm really sorry you were treated so badly, these officers seem so keen to catch someone out that from our experience they put this before anything. Losing a parent is one of life's really big blows, and DWP should have approached the question of your inheritance in a much more sympathetic manner. I'm afraid it's a reflection of the training these officers have had, what their priorities are, and how we are seen as faceless numbers in the system.

lizptsd

We are going to contact the CAB on Monday as its all too much. We are really concerned as the officer wants to ask me about the trust document. It's a legal document drafted in 1998 that I was not part of. Also the documents are supposed to be in confidence so we hope he's kept them locked as it's our bank statements going back to January 2024. They have showed no compassion regarding my Mum's death.

Catherine21

I'm so sorry god they treat everyone as guilty shocking my heart feels for you especially when your grieving I can imagine the stress and worry and I hope resolved ASAP for you xx

lizptsd

Thank you so much everyone it's a great comfort to know you are all there. We're so sorry so many others are going through similar scrutiny. Apparently who ever reported me said I had many thousands in a trust. This could have made us homeless as the council has a cap of £16,000. We've done nothing wrong but have to go through this awful period just before Christmas. The Government saying that these officers will be trained to deal with mental health is a farce. He knew my history but still falsely accused me and bullied me.

Ivy2023

@lizptsd I am sorry for your loss. A truly difficult time.

Your local Citizen Advice is good first step.

If you want/ need more support for your complaint or in general with the matter I recommend to take a solicitor.

The Legal Aid Scheme can pay for all or some costs if you are on low income or have low savings.

lizptsd

Thank you for all your advice. We will contact our local Citizens Advice on Monday. It's seriously affecting our mental and physical health. It's so awful as we've done nothing and caused no harm to anyone.

Thank you everyone ♥️

theme79

I’ve just received the letter to transfer from working tax credit to universal credit ….. OMG !!! I though the WTC was a complicated mess that as a self employed disabled person even those sssesing and advising had little grasp of - they ALWAYS got it wrong - but the UC online is just madness - u won’t be claiming as I have more than £6000 savings (I always try to keep some safety money as health, adaptions and numerous other disability costs are either impossible to get it like my electric wheelchair take months and months to get and then I’m not allowed a riser! So had to pay extras)

I honestly don’t know how anyone navigates these hurdles! It not about enabling it’s about dis-abling.

I lucky to have a job that more or less keeps me above water but honestly I had no idea how difficult, intrusive and ooor you’re expected to be even as a disabled working person.

lizptsd

I'll try many thanks ❤️

Kimi87

@theme79 You can still apply with savings over £6000.

Normally* capital over £16000 means no eligibility for UC.

Capital from £6000-£16000 means a reduced entitlement to UC.

*A special disregard applies for those moving from WTC if they have £16000+ in capital. They will still be eligible for UC with no deductions. This disregard lasts one year.

theme79

@Kimmy87

thanks 🙏 I didn’t realise that there was a disregard- I wil persist in the tortuous process then !

egister

OverlyAnxious

11 Nov 2024

This is a difficult situation because the people who genuinely are guilty will lie about it and pretend to be upset. The interviewers do need to be firm and forceful because they don't know who is lying and who is genuine. Their job is to work that out.

Personally I'm terrible with confrontation so I do appreciate how bad it makes people feel though I'm not sure there is any good to come from making a complaint. The interviewers can't be any less forceful and still do their job effectively. And if this was triggered by an anonymous phone call then they won't be able to interview or prosecute the caller either. It may be best just to draw a line under it and move on in this case. I know that's easier than said than done though.

There are no anonymous phone calls; the phone number from which the call originated can always be identified. Study Signalling System No. 7 (SS7), Diameter signaling and http/2 signaling.

lizptsd

That's interesting but I'm sure the DWP wouldn't release it. The suspects have been whittled down to one but we can't accuse them of it in case of Slander. It's very unfair as we've been slandered.

I'll feel better after talking to Citizens Advice tomorrow.

egister

lizptsd

17 Nov 2024

That's interesting but I'm sure the DWP wouldn't release it. The suspects have been whittled down to one but we can't accuse them of it in case of Slander. It's very unfair as we've been slandered.

I'll feel better after talking to Citizens Advice tomorrow.

Due to terrorism around the world, telecommunication companies keep the history of all phone calls. The calls you are interested in will also be there. Question for lawyers: how to get it.

OverlyAnxious

egister

17 Nov 2024

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/939011#Comment_939011

There are no anonymous phone calls; the phone number from which the call originated can always be identified. Study Signalling System No. 7 (SS7), Diameter signaling and http/2 signaling.

You can still buy PAYG SIM cards without giving a real name and address. And you can make calls from a public phone box. It is definitely possible to make anonymous calls.

lizptsd

The damage is done now and the DWP doesn't tell you to protect the caller. There is nothing we can do except try and get through this. All the sleepness nights and constant worry is taking its toll.