Sorry...but I WANT TO UNDERLINE that YOU WILL SURELY GET 100% FREE LEGAL SUPPORT AT THE INTERVIEW. I did it myself so I know what I am talking about. The only legal requirement is that you are on Income Support and from what you say on your first post you are so that is enough. Legal Advice and Support includes also IUC for Benefit Crime, no matter where they take place... I can confirm you will be 100% covered. This is not guaranteed in the unlikely event of going to Court. PLEASE feel free to adsk for further infos if you need to...

If you are on Income Support you are entitled to a solicitor paid by Legal Service entirely. However, this will not cover in case you have to go to Court. I have been there myself, and sometimes unfortunately, these Interview are conducted in such a way that they try to make you tell them things they want to hear. Therefore, I suggest you go with a solicitor. You can find it yourself ( although it might be tricky to find ne who adheres to the Legal Service) but I strongly suggest you go through the Cab which has a complete list of Local Solicitors who join the scheme. Personally, having a solicitor, really helped a lot, since he can disclose the case before the actual interview and the Investigator HAS to give both of you time to discuss the situation before the tape starts recording. If you cant find one on time , you have the right to call the Investigation Department to ask for A delay in the interview in order to find appropriate Legal Advice and Support. Bring with you ANY evidence to support the fact that he lives away, even your statements, bills everything that shows YOU are paying for food, bills etc etc... They probably already have those things with them...It happened in my case,...it was shocking... Good luck. Just take your time when answering and Im sure it will go ok, since it looks as you did not do anything wrong.

Oh yes...do bring a solicitor with you. I had an interview under caution a couple of months ago and my solicitor helped out quite a lot. They dealt with these causes many times, they know when to stop an investigator and they can disclose the information for you on the day of the interview before the actual interview begins so you can discuss with the solicitor on the defence to use. It has been reaaly useful and my solicitor reaaly calmed my nerves a lot. Try to stand up for your cause. The investigator will try to make you tell what they want and the way they pose the questions might sometimes push you to say things you shouldn't. Keep calm, organise your thoughts before answering and do bring all your documents to prove your partner has got a life on his own... For the rest, I am pretty sure you will be just fine. I don't believe they have a case against you to take you to court... And ...Good LUck. Let us know of the outcome.

They were claiming my husband was living with me because there were letters with his name still coming at my address after he left. Everything went well but the stress was horrible. I can't underline enough how important it is to get a solicitor's advice. I went to CAB office and they pointed me to one who was dealing with these matters and they were excellent. They help you to put things into perspective and they can also have a disclosure on your case on the day of the interview, before the interview actually starts. That will help you to gather information and thoughts which is important when you have an interview which is actually recorded. In your case, it is quite clear why you have been called, so you can gather as much information as you can beforehand. I did nt know what was going on until the day, so you can imagine the distress. The options they can take forward after the interview are 3: A penalty charge which is 30% of your overpayment PLUS the overpayment . A caution - a sort of Slap on the wrist - but you still have to pay the Overpayment A court Action - usually you have to owe over £3000 and they really have to have proofs that you did that on PURPOSE- this will not apply to you for sure I am pretty sure you will not go to court and that is good because only a court case could harm your criminal records. You would really have been overpaid for long time and they have to show that you actually did it on purpose. If you owe them money and they can prove it , you will have to pay them back but usually a payment scheme is accepted and it is decided upon your income and expenses. You will be fine... Believe me. Get advice from a solicitor and if you believe your proofs may be not enough, then get a solicitor to come with you at the interview.

Bazooka Boo is right. I was under investigation for 2 months for Alleged Benefit Fraud. It was one of the most distressing thing ever to hit me and so I understand what you are going through. I would firmly suggest you to get a solicitor with you,they are really helpful, they dealt with these situation many times and they can help during the interview which can sometimes be quite tough. The investigators try to make you tell them what they want and having the solicitor can stop them from doiing it. In your case, anyway, it should not be too bad since the worst it could happen is to pay back a few hundreds of pounds. One piece of advice I would give though is that in so many years living in UK I learnt that EVERYTIME I have to contact them for ANYTHING at all I need TO PUT EVERYTHING IN WRITING , meke sure it is RECORDED DELIVERY and keep those recepits for YEARS.... It is sad but withouth them , it is your word against the Mighty Government and they have so much power to stress you... It has been hard for me,...it just recently turn out good for me...but I learnt a lot ... Take care ...and try and not worry too much. You will be fine... Get a solicitor...

Hi there... no, do not worry as this letter is just for them to check that you are right on the benefit. The officer will double check your details and make sure your claim is fine. It is standard procedure and not an Investigation. Don't worry.

Hi there, i had an interview last week myself but i was not told i was going to attend a next one... Usually it is supposed to be only one... Did you by any chance stopped the previous one ? You might know how stressful those ones are therefore I might understand if you wanted to stop yours. I have not received any news from them yet. Have you got an idea how long do we have to wait before we get any infos back ? Also make sure you get a solicitor. They really help you out with all the legal issues....and they are really supportive.

you go sister !!!!!!!

LOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry...i sort of thought that u were a man... Apologies....madam !!!!

Dear bookworm, i wish all men were like you. I probably had the worst husband then... Believe you me if i tell you that i told him many times but because he stated he did not have an address where to forward them to he needed to use my one... The battles and the arguments over that and other stuff is uncountable but the sad reality is that now because of him i am in this mess and it will take time for me to get back to normality... I lost touch with it weeks ago and it is horrible... Thank you bookworm.

I did send his bank statements back and other stuff but they came all back after a month... When i made the enquiry i was told that only the person himself can change the details by calling or going to the branch otherwise it will not happen. Thankyou,

Hi welsh mam, yes, i went to the cab as soon as i received the letter 3 weeks ago. They did not really help much more than telling me i looked bad... But the good thing is that they put me in contact to a legal aid solicitor who was present at my interview and who i will rely to as well when i receive the answer from the investigators. When i get information next i will consult with her before taking further action but i was told it will take time and that is killing me ( see my other post about it...). Anyway....i was told my husband is not supposed to have things coming to my home but the fact is that i can not change details on his behalf and therefore my hands are pretty tight... I am worried...and stressed and it is littrerally killing me... Thankyou.

Myinvestigator tried to put things in my mouth and all. She was pushing me to say that it was surprising that my husband had no fixed address because he was a grown man... GROWN MAN????? WHAT the hell has got that to do with me??? And my accusation???? Was she trying to make admitt wnhat i was saying wasn't true???? Well...it was... im afraid for her... I really think that no matter how near or far from the truth they are , they always want to find a way to convict you... using any way possible... Sometimes i think...i did what i could and whatever happens happens... But i cant help worrying...I do feel suicidal too at times...i have to admitt... I am under such an immense stress and worry that only people who have been in same position can understand... Now i have to fear i am watched, that if he comes around to see my daughter i will be in trouble ( although i declared that)... Idon't know. I wish i could get up and it was all over with... Everyday is harder and harder and it is not getting any easier... And i am here alone... It's horrible !!!! Thank you for your time...

Thank you whu1... Well, my solicitor told me that as things are i should try and not worry too much. Unfortunately, he is not paying any billselsewhere because he is living with other people ( i think the y r on benefit too) AND THEREFORE he is not paying anything else. The investigator sounded surprised that after one year he was not able to get his own place...but in the end what have i got to do with it? He has got bank account at this address im afraid but despite me trying and send them back to the sender they keep on coming and only he can change the address... So it is with british gas. He joined when we moved in this house and kind of always owed some bills and therefore when he moved out there were money in his name on the bill and still haven't been able to clear the debt and change the name... Why should i be lyable for his debts? Well, it is messy but not really my fault. THe solicitor said that as far as we are now...it is not really my fault if he doesn't collaborate with them but it is a thought that keeps on coming in my head... And it's been 3 weeks of waiting and it really hit me very very hard... I now have to wait again ...and can't help but being worried... I am sorry to hear you went through the same situation... Did you get it all solved in the end? How did it go? Thanks for your time... :sad::sad:

Hi everybody... ive been called for a Interview Under Caution which I attended yesterday after over 2 weeks of waiting. I cannot describe you the stress this caused me. I am already a very anxious person by nature but all this is really taking its toll physically and mentally now. At theinterview basically they insisted that my husband , who left over a year ago, and who is still actaully using my adrress for his mail to come bEcause hasn't got a fixed address (AS HE STATES...), IS STILL living with me. I have been honest and told them that apart from him turning up sometimes to see his child and having those letters coming through, he is not part of my life anymore. Useless to say that i TRIED OVER AND OVER TO push him to change his address on his papers, tried to readdress his letters back to sender but it was absolutely useless. I don't have the power to speak on his behalf and therefore can not make those changes. The interview ended with the lady telling me basically that htey were going to assess the matter furhther, try to speak to hubby ( WHO I AM SURE WILL NEVER DEAL WITH THEM AS HE DON'T REEEEEALLLY CARE) and they will get back to me... The point is that I live here completely alone, no friends,...only mydaughter as support but she is 4 and not really helpful ( poor might...). I am left with no money, debts rising and bills coming and living on £20 child benefit and all because unfortunately I couldn't redirect my husband mail... Howlong do i have to wait ? And after all... maybe they can still flipping accusing me of fraud ( i don't know what basis they will find...) but as far as my gut instinct think...they will not stop here. They want to win and im sure they will find another excuse to call me up again and drag this further and further... My point is...I don't think I can take this too long... It has been 3 weeks already, i lost 7 pounds, hardly slept, been snappy all the time and...it is not over... I am tearful, stressed, don't have anybody to talk... I am a nervous wreck... I am really sorry to put this on you but i am telling you it is all taking its toll on me. Any advice, or any word from you will be surely loved as it looks that i am not really alone here... Take care you all... Doodoo

Hi there...much in the same situation here i am afraid. I have to attend interview in the morning from Council but it was not clear what for but i have an idea it is because of the fact that since my husband left in november 07 he NEVER changed his address of his mail simply because he does not a peranent place to have them sent to. He still sleeps at mates house but can not declare it because most of his friend are on benefits and if somone comes to live in his place they would have issues with their benefits. So now i have issues... He still comes around to see dd but never gave me any money and i pay all my bills... I don't know...I hardly slept or ate since i received the letter but today i feel like i am dead inside. Soooooo worried but can not do anything anymore. I will go there tomorrow with a solicitor and hope they will understand it did not depend on me really but... more than this i can not say... If you have any advice i am more than willing to listen to you dear people. Im new here but like the way you deal with issues like this without judging... Thank you...