compliance interview (allegation someone else is living with me??)

[Shoelover]

The 3 days a week thing is an urban myth. It's to do with maintaining a common household.

[Shoelover]

I have a little experience in the area too..

[Shoelover]

That will have been tax credits..

 

To the o/p. Is the interview under caution? Compliance letters don't tend to say what the interview is about.

[Shoelover]

I used to work with a photographer by the name of John Hume (now deceased so can name him) who was employed for a time doing DWP investigation work and part of the recording of peoples coming and goings was that the person was expected to be allowed a person to stop no more than 3 nights/week. As you say this is not a hard and fast rule but it is something that will be considered because if someone is stopping at your house the majority of the time then they are in a practical sense not normally or habitually resident elsewhere. This is just one part of the story though, people can be considered to be in a permanent relationship or supporting someone even if they spend no time together like that.

 

When was he involved with this? Was it a documentary?

[Shoelover]

In the 1970's No documentary involvement. He worked directly for the old DHSS doing undercover observations of people who were claiming they were single when it was suspected they werent. he also did a bit of watching peple who were claiming disability. Like many things rules of thum become code of practice and then are accepted as being a suitable benchmark for similar cases. You can look at many different fields and find the same, health and safety, parking and even employment law all have a "best fit" test of one sort or another without it being prescribed by legislation

 

The 3 nights a week rule really is an urban a myth - and certainly isn't in any code of practice.There are certain things that are considered when looking at an allegation of living together. Take a long distance lorry driver.. he might only be home one night a week but is considered to live there.

 

That has been the case since the mid '90's to my knowledge. As said above, what was the case in the 1970's certainly isn't today. The benefits that were around then have mostly been replaced.

[Shoelover]

Hello again.

 

All you can do is go in and tell the truth. I'm sure the DWP have seen it all before and certainly here we've seen ladies who are pregnant but no longer with the partner. You aren't the first and you won't be the last.

 

Hopefully Shoelover will pop in and tell us their thoughts.

 

HB

Totally agree... it's just an informal interview. Anything you can provide which backs up what you have said here will help.

[Shoelover]

Should I inform the baby's dad an allegations been made? Will he be called in? Would it look good if I provided documents from him To prove his address etc?

 

If he has his own address & you can provide that then that will be fine. At the interview you could offer to get a letter from him confirming that he lives elsewhere.

 

Try not to worry too much: most compliance officers are nice people. Sometimes they realise that you are not claiming all the benefits that you are entitled to.

 

Good luck with it - and your pregnancy x

[Shoelover]

It's been a week and had no contact from them will they leave it now till after xmas?

 

Highly likely. Or you could ring and explain that you want to get it over with and they might slot you in.