DWP Telephone Compliance Interview - undisclosed savings ***Resolved***

[Brownie77]

Hello everyone,

 

I have been on Guaranteed Pension Credit for a year now. Since my husband lost his job.

 

When applying we did a very stupid thing and did not disclose the extent of our savings.  We were, to be frank, reeling from having to apply for benefits at all after working all our lives and did not realise the full-implications of what we were doing. It was too simple just to say ‘NO” during the phone application.

 

Now we have this compliance telephone interview. We realise that they must or at least may have found out. What we need now is the best strategy going forward. We do not, at any point, wish to disclose our bank statements. We are willing to pay back and admit our culpability. But not give up our bank accounts which we regard as an invasion of privacy.

 

Options we have thought of is not attending and thus allowing our benefits to be stopped.

Withdrawing our claim citing we are now above the limit.

 

What might be the best strategy. we are making ourselves ill with worry.

 

Thank you

[dx100uk]

sadly you will have to disclose bank statements.

[Brownie77]

But if we refuse and let them stop benefits??

[AndyOrch]

Have they actually mentioned savings within the Compliance letter ? See what the content of the phone interview is first ?

[Brownie77]

Well the usual list on the back....emigration status, working,income savings. 

 

I just assumed they would talk about or want them??

[AndyOrch]

Wait and see...if they do they do if they dont ........

[Brownie77]

Thank you. But IF they do, what is my best course of action as they will incriminate us. I am 75 years old, disabled and in poor health. I just cant deal with the upset. I am willing to pay back. 

 

 

[dx100uk]

is your entitlement criteria likely to change?

ie in the future you might well be entitled to a benefit?

part of the process is agreeing to these checks.

 

could you pay everything back they might ask for right now?

that would probably resolve this immediate issue, but wont resolve it if you need benefits in the future..

they would then require the info but ofcourse for that time which is in the future.

 

[AndyOrch]

Have you got savings over 10K ?

 

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/pension-credit/

[unclebulgaria67]

Be aware that if necessary DWP can obtain your Bank account balance information, simply by making a request to your Bank.  Perhaps they already have the information and they are waiting for you to confirm the information, before deciding how to deal with this.

 

By not owning up to an error, you could end up in a worse position. If they believe you have done this deliberately, rather than just an error, then I don't need to point out how serious this matter could be.  

 

If you are thinking of not providing the information, I would suggest that you obtain legal advice first from a Solicitor. 

[miteaide]

You advised someone to engage in fraudulent activity in order to deceive the DWP.

We do not do this kind of thing on this forum. If you want to give this kind of advice then you will have to find somewhere else to do it. Thank you

[Brownie77]

Thank you for these responses. To take them one at a time. 

 

dx100uk:  Our entitlement is not likely to change in two years we will both be on a pension. Yes, we can pay every penny back. And are willing to do so.

 

Andyorch:  Yes we have £10,000 in savings.

 

unclebulgaria67: yes we are aware of the implications, but would rather act now to end this process. It is simply too stressful to have it stretched out.

 

miteaide:  I understand what you say and where you are coming from. This was a mistake and we bitterly regret the single moment where we gave to the wrong answer to the telephone question. we were not thinking straight. We are in out 60s/70s. This is our first time on benefits after working all our lives. I know we were wrong and stupid, but we are not serial fraudsters by any stretch. But we are not seeking to minimise our actions. 

 

Thank you

 

 

 

[AndyOrch]

Andyorch:  Yes we have £10,000 in savings.

 

Over 10K ?

[Brownie77]

yes it is over that amount.

[AndyOrch]

A lot or just or twice as much ?  Just trying to determine if its borderline ?

[Brownie77]

well its over that limits and still will be if we repay the amount they have paid.

It is a fair bit over.

 

Also, can anything be read into the fact it is a telephone interview, not a face-to-face??

Edited July 31, 2019 by Brownie77

[AndyOrch]

Thats the way they do it now to keep costs down......possibly just a regular compliance check.

[Brownie77]

But the thing is I/we won;t be compliant. How do we handle that for the best??

[AndyOrch]

It depends on the call and what is asked......if they ask outright what savings do you have...you will have to be truthful and state the amount...see how they respond and what they suggest will happen.

 

Then again they may not and Im not going to tell you what you should do....thats your decision and you will have to deal with the outcome on what they deem fit to resolve it.

 

We cant advise you what to do you know yourself what you should have done....possibly this is an opportunity to put it right with the least fallout.

Always better to be truthful and admit rather than they found out without you informing them.

[Brownie77]

Yes , absolutely thank you. We are willing to admit it, and need the best way to do it without it going any further. We do want to put it right. For sure we do.

[AndyOrch]

So should the question of savings not arise.......are you going to raise it and possibly state you wasn't aware or misunderstood  the savings threshold ?

 

Once you get this resolved I assure you will sleep better at night 

[Brownie77]

Yes i feel that we will. because if not this could recur again and its been a nightmare. And we both need that sleep

[AndyOrch]

See how it goes ...please let us know the outcome.

[Brownie77]

I will, and again thank you all for your help and advice.

[miteaide]

The compliance phone interview is purely to get inconsistent information out of benefit recipients.

DWP CFCD are also conscious that average mortality rates dictate the timescale for recovering over payments. Sorry its not nice but its a fact.

It may be better for anyone in similar situation to ask DWP for a pension credit application form an re-apply with honest answers (or print this off https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/pension-credit-application-form )as DWP will probably refuse to provide you with one. Send it to your local DWP pension office. That way, DWP will then have the facts.

 

You have to be in receipt of many thousands your not entitled to before DWP take any action. The maximum Pension Credit anyone can get each year is about £4,000. If you've been working all your life, its doubtful your even entitled to PC due to NI contribution, SSP/SERPS/private pension. The rules changed recently regarding spouses age and if your husband is under pension age, eligibly is now different.

 

Edited July 31, 2019 by miteaide
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