I had an IUC today...please help...

[missy84]

I had an IUC today at the jobcentre.

i reveived a letter last week that said "we have arranged this interview because we believe there are grounds for suspecting that you may have commited a criminal offence in relation to a benefit claim because of a change in your circumstances" it was regarding my claim for income support.

im a lone parent claimig income support and tax credits also i recieve full housing benefit.

once in they interview they just simply asked me for details on my 2 childrens father. whicc i do not know i have allready explained my circumstances to the child maintenance people and do not have a father on their birth certificate. the interviewer then said "do i know that the department can put me under surveilance at any time"

he also asked me to give an example of a change of circumstance of which i would need to inform income support. i replyed with "going back to work or having another baby" he also told me that having a partner living with me was one of which i agreed.

After the interview i asked him why i had been called in and he said they interview most lone parents on income support to try and establish who and where the father is, he said they sometime interview 60 people a day under these circumstances.

I dont know if i believe this or if he was just telling me that.

Has anyone ever had or heard of anything like this? it seems a bit extreme to put you under caution just to ask you routine questions about your childs fathers whereabouts....

I think maybe someone has called them and tipped them off that i have someone living with and they where just testing me to see what i was gonna say...i dont know. i was so worried before the interview and even more confused now......i do have a boyfriend who stays over sometimes and helps me with the kids a lotbut i dont get any financial assistance from him. im just worried if they have been watching me that they might think he lives with me....please any advice, i feel so lonely as i dont want to talk about it with friends i feel so embaressed

[RaeUK]

Hi missy84.

Try not to let it stress you too much.

A simple stroll through this forum seems to confirm what they said about terrifying single parents for fun. Clearly nothing better to do...

There seems to be so many posts just like yours recently.

Don't be embarassed. And do talk about it. I suspect many people don't realise the harassment lone mothers are being put under.

Relax, you have done nothing wrong. And you are entitled to a private life - so enjoy it!

Best wishes.

Rae.

[missy84]

thanks Rae

The guy made me feel like like a criminal and he didnt even give me a real explanantion as to why i was there, ii honestly looked like he was enjoying asking me awkward questions.

but hey thanks again

[MIKEY DABODEE]

I had an IUC today at the jobcentre.

i reveived a letter last week that said "we have arranged this interview because we believe there are grounds for suspecting that you may have commited a criminal offence in relation to a benefit claim because of a change in your circumstances" it was regarding my claim for income support.

im a lone parent claimig income support and tax credits also i recieve full housing benefit.

once in they interview they just simply asked me for details on my 2 childrens father. whicc i do not know i have allready explained my circumstances to the child maintenance people and do not have a father on their birth certificate. the interviewer then said "do i know that the department can put me under surveilance at any time"

he also asked me to give an example of a change of circumstance of which i would need to inform income support. i replyed with "going back to work or having another baby" he also told me that having a partner living with me was one of which i agreed.

After the interview i asked him why i had been called in and he said they interview most lone parents on income support to try and establish who and where the father is, he said they sometime interview 60 people a day under these circumstances.

I dont know if i believe this or if he was just telling me that.

Has anyone ever had or heard of anything like this? it seems a bit extreme to put you under caution just to ask you routine questions about your childs fathers whereabouts....

I think maybe someone has called them and tipped them off that i have someone living with and they where just testing me to see what i was gonna say...i dont know. i was so worried before the interview and even more confused now......i do have a boyfriend who stays over sometimes and helps me with the kids a lotbut i dont get any financial assistance from him. im just worried if they have been watching me that they might think he lives with me....please any advice, i feel so lonely as i dont want to talk about it with friends i feel so embaressed

 

Hi,

 

This is awful

 

I think they have brought you in to try and find out more about your boyfriend. This has probably come about because some spiteful person has either rang or wrote in saying that you have someone living with you.

 

Interviews are not carried out now in respect of any CSA issues so to tell you that is incorrect.

 

Is there anything you can think of that may connect him with your address, if not then I dont think you should worry to much.

 

They have to do their job but clearly you have done nothing wrong it

just a shame that some people are so nasty.

 

If you have to go in again please seek some help from welfare rights or cab or similar

[Aviva]

The problem is there are no rules around benefits, boyfriends/girlfriends or even ex-partners and staying over, helping out with children, etc. It's all done on a case by case basis.

 

Time and time again we see people on this site who are a lone parent and who have been called to a IUC and are worried about the fact that their new partner stays over a couple of times a week or that their ex-partner comes to the house a lot to help with the children.

 

As there are no clear rules these people worry and worry because there is nothing out there that states as long as you do this you'll be ok.

[missy84]

thanks aviva. i didnt know that there were no clear rules regarding this issue. that is why i have found it so hard to find things on the internet for it.

[missy84]

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