Hy! Bank statements, can they check whithout my aproval?

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Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 63,452 Championing

    What do you mean do they check the evidence without your approval? If you sent them the bank statements then you gave them approval so yes they will check them.

  • Ostia
    Ostia Online Community Member Posts: 34 Contributor

    Hi Marius

    When you say DWP "checked you at the airport" do you mean that your flight info was passed on to UC via passport control, without you having informed them first?? If so that is news to me, they must have a way of matching UC claimants with passports at passport control...

  • Marius41
    Marius41 Online Community Member Posts: 56 Listener

    Yes they checked me at the airport and they saw I was fliing which I thought it was very weird,but this is how they do things.Honestly I never heard this on no country.Makes wana leave from here,they are acting like MI 6

  • Marius41
    Marius41 Online Community Member Posts: 56 Listener

    Also I know tey need to ask for your permission before doing checks on you,they can t take that right from you

  • Ostia
    Ostia Online Community Member Posts: 34 Contributor

    Did they mention CCTV? Puzzled you said they "saw you were flying"...they do have the right to check CCTV and other evidence...part of routine fraud checks, even a random one...

    I think you may mean they found out that you had taken a flight ie through monitoring passports?? I didn't know this was happening but bit could be a new move to check people comply with the terms of their contract with UC. Wonder if they also updated rules to make it clear that any foreign travel needed to be reported ..earlier in the year it was ambiguous as different parts of the Gov.uk website said slightly different things...I will check it out for myself!

  • Marius41
    Marius41 Online Community Member Posts: 56 Listener

    I got no ideea how they do it but they stop my claim to show them proof of coming back in the uk and proof of going ,they also visit in my house and I didn t pick up whithout letting me know which I think is to much so for me those are strong arguments to leave this country,I feel like im chased

  • Ostia
    Ostia Online Community Member Posts: 34 Contributor

    Hi Marius

    It sounds really scary but try not to panic! You supplied the information needed and no doubt the UC people are checking it over. If they have changed the rules about going away and you didnt know, try to find some advocacy support eg through Mind or any disability charity you belong to.

    I'm afraid that leaving the country to move abroad will not be helpful if you still need to claim disability benefits somewhere….most countries have computerised benefit systems which can be linked up with other State services, to ensure that the right people are getting the right benefits. For example, someone who claims to be totally housebound should not be going abroad (I think that doesn't apply to you!)

    It is best to keep ahead by checking out the rules and regulations on a frequent basis. www.benefitsandwork.co.uk has lots of free information which may be helpful. Citizens Advice Bureau may be supportive too, if you look on their website.

    All the best

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 63,452 Championing

    This is all very odd to me, sorry. I've never known DWP to check on anyone at any airport.

    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/937862#Comment_937862

    Permission for what exactly? You've already sent them bank statements so you've given them permission to look at them, which they will.

  • Ostia
    Ostia Online Community Member Posts: 34 Contributor

    I think things are rather muddled in Marius' account. It is possible that a new system links UC and passport control....maybe...

    But Overpayment is also mentioned somewhere so it could be the travel thing is a red herring and there is another issue going on. The DWP do have a right to check out the living arrangements and income of the claimant but Marius doesn't seem aware of this. It can be scary when they do these checks and it is wise to get support from someone qualified eg an advocate or solicitor.

  • Ostia
    Ostia Online Community Member Posts: 34 Contributor

    Hello Marius, hope you are feeling ok today.

    Could you tell us a bit more about what happened to you with the UC and the flight taken/alternative transport back issue as it raises so many questions and I would like to learn from it?

    Were you just starting your claim for UC when this happened? If so you needed to be in the country whilst the claim went through, I think. (residency test).

    Perhaps there is an immigration issue re right to stay in the UK (apologies if not, I am just looking at all the possibilities…)

    Maybe the DWP was looking at your bank statements you handed them and noticed a flight paid for but no return fare?? I don't know why they would think you werent back in the country as even trains and boats need passport control.

    It is very odd!

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 63,452 Championing

    I'd just like to add that my daughter claims UC and has been abroad twice with me on holiday twice for a couple of weeks and there were no issues at the airport.

    I do agree that it seems very odd and I don't think we've had all the story here.

  • Ostia
    Ostia Online Community Member Posts: 34 Contributor

    Thanks Poppy.

    Do you know if your daughter informed the DWP that she would be away first??

    Perhaps DWP expect to be informed now??

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 63,452 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/938435#Comment_938435

    No problem. No, they were not informed for either of them. I'm her appointee and I know you do not need to inform them when going away for less than 1 month because she has LCWRA so no commitments anyway. The last time we were abroad was Sept this year.

    I also claim Income Related ESA and didn't inform them either and there were no issues.

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