Interview under caution-DWP-

[Shoelover]

Can you take a friend along for moral support?

 

Don't believe all the horror stories. Use the interview as your chance to get across what has occurred from your point of view. Take your time at the interview and if you don't understand something just ask them to explain again.

 

You can take your own notes at the interview - jot down anything you want to remember. One of the CD's will be sealed In front of you and you will be asked to sign the seal. This can be unsealed in court if there is any dispute about what was said:.

[Shoelover]

There's currently industrial action with some criminal solicitors not taking new legal aid matters.

 

If you go onto direct gov website there is a section called the criminal defence service. That may help

[Shoelover]

Housing benefit will do "underlying entitlement" which is what you were entitled to had they been aware of your true circumstances.

 

 

What I would say is if your calculations are correct then you are over the threshold for prosecution. That said, without the full facts of the case nobody can really say one way or the other.

 

You have done the scary bit now. Well done for facing it- I hope it wasn't as horrid as your expected.

[Shoelover]

You know what are not all bad.... We are just people doing a job and the vast majority treat people well. Remember the staff don't make the rules

[Shoelover]

If I made a sweeping generalisation about people that claimed benefits there would rightly be uproar. I rarely get abuse as I make a point of treating people well, but I have been on the receiving end.

 

Just remember that some of us come on websites like this and try to help people off the clock, unpaid. That's because I know only too well how complex it is to claim benefits- as do most of us that try to help out.

[Shoelover]

Neither can you make a sweeping generalisation about DWP staff! You can't compare someone who works in a call centre with an investigator or a visiting officer. Most of your experience of staff is the call centres.

All I am trying to say is don't demonise us all because some staff are rude & unpleasant.

Just like people on benefit it's a diverse bunch but actually i personally know a lot of staff that go out of their way to help.

Shall we move on now? Have you looked at your figures again?

[Shoelover]

I label people who refuse get off their ass to work just as deserving as the sick to have the financial support, albeit at a lower rate.

 

Let's not go there.....

[Shoelover]

My principle has always been - as a DWP decision maker, as a benefit adviser or as a claimant to treat others how I would want to be treated in the same position. It's all we can do, and remember that the voice on the other end of the phone belongs to person, just like us.

 

My principal exactly too & its served me well in the 22years I have spent working in benefits.

I do agree with your comments re call centre staff- I'd hate their job!! They take the flak day in day out. No excuse for being rude I know

[Shoelover]

Ok, you are right. I cannot label you all the same. And yes, all my experience is with call centre staff, I just find it hard to believe. Never mind.

 

Yes, I have looked at my figures again & taking off underlying entitlement using the HB online calculator. HB would only be £480 (give or take a few £)

 

And Esa would be nearer the £4000 mark. Which I am aware is still over the prosecution limit. And I have gone through everything, and spotted my mistakes.

 

On my phone bill for May '14 I made a phone call to HMRC (on the day my husband started working) the phone call was 42 mins long- after that I made a phone call to DWP, I t wasn't for very long and was at 4:47 and if i remember correctly, I put the phone down as i didn't have time to wait on hold. and then never got round to it after that, Stupid mistake & yes I most certainly should have rang when the money was coming in my account, but something in my brain was telling me I had already told them & it was their problem to sort out. Well, now i am paying for it. I deeply regret it.

 

 

Even 4k doesn't always land you in court. Even if that were to happen, the speed at which you have acted & your obvious remorse will go in your favour when magistrates look at your case. That's IF it happens.

 

You are doing your best to sort it out.. Please don't torture yourself over it and make yourself unwell- it will change nothing. I'm assuming you have never been before the courts before - so even if you did go to court £4k is below the "threshold" for custody.

[Shoelover]

Even if the case is referred to the CPS you will not be looking at a custodial for £3k.