ChatterBank31 mins ago
DSS fraud interview i ve done nothing wrong
Hello! i ve been request to attend an interview under caution on friday...
I can see why.. i ma single parent with 2 kids my son is disabled so i claim care allowance and my daughter is in school.. i dont work at all but i am involved with a charity group who i do volunter work for but the dss know this .. it might be that i help my mum with her job as she has been seriousily ill in the last 2 months and is expecting to be called in at any time for a operation. i dont get paid for helping her, i just drive her about and she puts fuel in my car so i am not out of pocket. when she goes into hospital she will have to give up her job anyway i was hoping that they would offer it to me !!!! Can anyone help as i cant afford a solictor and i m to embrassed to take a friend
I can see why.. i ma single parent with 2 kids my son is disabled so i claim care allowance and my daughter is in school.. i dont work at all but i am involved with a charity group who i do volunter work for but the dss know this .. it might be that i help my mum with her job as she has been seriousily ill in the last 2 months and is expecting to be called in at any time for a operation. i dont get paid for helping her, i just drive her about and she puts fuel in my car so i am not out of pocket. when she goes into hospital she will have to give up her job anyway i was hoping that they would offer it to me !!!! Can anyone help as i cant afford a solictor and i m to embrassed to take a friend
Answers
I do not think you have anything to worry about, its almost certainly to check that the charity work really is free. Just get confirmation from the charity group that you are an unpaid volunteer. Your mum may need to confirm that you are not paid as well but I think it is the charity work they want to check on.
19:50 Wed 03rd Mar 2010
You will offered a solicitor free of charge, it is one of the options they give you. If you have done nothing then you need not worry. Just tell them what you've said here,it could be just someone being spiteful,so unless they have evidence of you having payment,they are peeing in the wind.Good luck and dont worry.
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They cannot call you a liar, they have to be very professional and they can only go by the facts, one word or advice, only give them the information they ask for, don't elaborate or waffle, keep your replies short and to the point. If they pause for a while whilst interviewing you it is an intimidation tactic for you to fill the void and they use that to try to trip you up as they are listening to everything alot calmer than you are, I learnt that from Bones on the tele but I have seen it done on loads of programmes and it seems to be a common tactic in interviews .
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If the voluntary work is for a registered charity you should be okay.
However you are working - helping your mother out would be considered to be working. The fact that you are not getting paid doesn't matter. They can actually calculate an overpayment of benefit based on the amount of hours that you were working and using the minimum wage amount.
Just tell the fraud officers the truth - they will explain the situation to you and ask you for your side of the story. They are just doing their job and are (normally) nice people.
Don't worry too much - which is easy for me to say. Good luck.
However you are working - helping your mother out would be considered to be working. The fact that you are not getting paid doesn't matter. They can actually calculate an overpayment of benefit based on the amount of hours that you were working and using the minimum wage amount.
Just tell the fraud officers the truth - they will explain the situation to you and ask you for your side of the story. They are just doing their job and are (normally) nice people.
Don't worry too much - which is easy for me to say. Good luck.
''Helping your mother out would be considered to be working. The fact that you are not getting paid doesn't matter. They can actually calculate an overpayment of benefit based on the amount of hours that you were working and using the minimum wage amount. ''
I'm not saying what wolf63 has written above is incorrect but if they do deduct any benefits, bearing in mind the OP's personal circumstances and what she has written above, it's a bloody travesty!
I'm not saying what wolf63 has written above is incorrect but if they do deduct any benefits, bearing in mind the OP's personal circumstances and what she has written above, it's a bloody travesty!
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I read what Katie said - she could still be considered to be working even by helping her mother by driving her around.
All Katie did was help her mother - something any of us would do. But the DWP have been told about this and they had no option but to check the situation out.
CAB may be able to help you out Katie - they might be able to give you advise.
Susan
All Katie did was help her mother - something any of us would do. But the DWP have been told about this and they had no option but to check the situation out.
CAB may be able to help you out Katie - they might be able to give you advise.
Susan
thank you everyone for your comments i will reassure you all my son is well cared for by another member of my family as i dont want my house set on fire again !!!! i will take all your comments on board im just very worried but i have nothing to hide, i just luv my mum i hate to see her in pain she has always been their for me through a nasty divorce and my x father in law sexual molesting my daughter that case was horific. thank you for the doc that was posted it is very useful
katie, re the first reply.. you will not be offered any free legal advice. your appointment letter should give you an idea why they want to see you (ie; regarding work, living arrangements, capital etc). if it doesn't give you any idea then ring them and ask.
also, they will not call you in for an interview under caution unless they feel they have evidence of an offence. evidence is not "we think you might be working because your neighbour said so". evidence is pay details from a company, bank statements showing you have capital, various documents showing that you may have a partner living with you.
if you are sure that you have reported any changes in your circumstances that may affect your benefit, you will be fine. they can't assume an income from an unpaid job. they shouldn't intimidate you. they will show you the evidence they have, and you will have an opportunity to explain anything that comes to light.
also, they will not call you in for an interview under caution unless they feel they have evidence of an offence. evidence is not "we think you might be working because your neighbour said so". evidence is pay details from a company, bank statements showing you have capital, various documents showing that you may have a partner living with you.
if you are sure that you have reported any changes in your circumstances that may affect your benefit, you will be fine. they can't assume an income from an unpaid job. they shouldn't intimidate you. they will show you the evidence they have, and you will have an opportunity to explain anything that comes to light.
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