Customer Compliance

Thankyou for your nice comment!! Fed up with worrying now!

lainie wrote:

Many thanks for your prompt reply. I feel a little better but still very nervous and worried. Just one further question, I know you cannot answer personal questions so I will try to generalise. Is it possible for a claimant's partner to be present at the interview and is he able to comment or ask questions? Thankyou, Lainie

Yes, you can have your partner present at the interview and he is entitled to ask questions.

Whether your partner attracts a reply to any questions posed, would be anybody's guess?

Well, had the visit today. Although a very nice lady, polite and helpful, still a frightening and unpleasant experience even with husband there. Istill had to write a statement confirming the am dram five minute appearance etc. Someone had rung the sneaks line and informed on me, saying that I was working as well! Absolutely not true. Lady said that she was investigating for fraud, as they have to investigate every one of these calls they get. She said I was not to worry about it, and looked at other aspects and advised me to claim DLA as well. Cannot believe that a friend would have done this to me. Very upset and depressed as you can imagine - I did ask her ' are we not entitled to have a life, because we are claiming.' She advised against any kind of am-dram in future, and said any other information they received about me would be reported to the Fraud Officers. From now on I am going to become a recluse I suppose. Hope this is helpful to others. Just disappear, don't appear in public, not allowed. Lainie

Hi,

I'm afraid what's happened to you in being reported to the DWP is quite common, usually a 'friend', neighbour or ex partner/husband/wife etc.

The good news is that the vast majority of these cases prove to have no foundation whatsoever after investigation.

Unfortunately, all reported cases have to be investigated by the DWP. Thankfully in your case they have accepted what you said, and even informed you to apply for DLA.

From my experience, the vast majority of Compliance Officers do the job to the best of their ability, despite poor staff morale due to job cuts and being paid the minimum wage or slightly above.

Please don't make yourself a recluse just because of this incident.

Claimants of sickness and disability related benefits are allowed to go out !!

Best wishes.

Jim

Thankyou, Jim. Feeling a bit better now, thanks for helpful advice, you are a nice chap! Lainie

Hi Lainie,

Thank you for kind words, most appreciated.

Best wishes.

Jim