Compliance Interview etc

Hi Guys


So it seems I have been a bit of a numpty with my finances, I am not expecting or wanting much sympathy here as I know most of us live hand to mouth, so somebody having savings while on benefits is probably a sin these days, I'll add a brief description of my circumstances, as they have a baring on the next bit. A few years ago I was paralysed due to a rare condition called cauda Equina syndrome, I have managed to fight back (with very little help) to regain some functions, I can walk a bit with aids but only very short distances, My left leg/foot is like 70% paralysed, My bowel/bladder a similar amount and I am in constant agony either from my back where the surgery was or my leg/foot, I suffered with depression and anxiety before this and going out walking in nature, or cycling was my coping strategy, now they have been taken away obviously they have got worse, This all happened when I was 37 and had just got married weeks before the "accident" also recently found out I have undiagnosed ADHD (explains my life pattern from school onwards) I am also on more drugs than you'd have found at a 90s rave so I am off my napper half the time. I get ESA & Higher rates PIP

So, in Feb, I got a letter asking me to attend a phone compliance interview. I didn't think much of it after looking it up, as I had done nothing wrong in my mind. Anyway, it turns out the HMRC reported to the DWP that I have X amount over the £6000 limit, which I technically did but as I explained to the interviewer, I had a savings account with around £5500 in it, and that was my savings (in my mind) and 2 current accounts which ebbed and flowed between £500-£1500 each (I did not consider these savings as they were not to me, it was up and down with bills, online groceries etc, but how I see it doesn't seem to matter to them what I consider savings)

We Moved into a new house in 2022 after a 5 year wait, it had nothing just bare floors and yellow painted walls so we have had a job & half making it half decent, we got the basic stuff like carpets, oven, washer, beds etc. but a lot of stuff is hard as I Can’t drive getting out and about is very difficult, and I am worn out very quickly so long story short a lot of stuff just hasn’t been bought (My wife is Autistic so hates shopping too) anything I have bought has been online and I have barely left the house in years, so in short I have not been spending the money “fast enough” I was also trying to save for various things like driving lessons, Car, failing that mobility scooter to try and improve quality of life, a honeymoon we never got to have (not been on holiday for 14 years at all) and various other essentials. Also I “owe” British gas £3500 due to not being able to sort out numerous issues (over charging/wrong meter reads/crap customer service) I have been paying £100 p/m which was our price before they hiked it up 2/3 years ago so I was also deducting that in my head Vs “savings”.

Anyway they have requested ALL statements from all accounts since Jan 2022 which is a pain but whatever happy to do so, Going through these I can see I have been above the £6k (by a fair bit on some occasions My Dad sent me £6000 (£3000 x 2) in 2022 to help out (part of his inheritance from my grandad) which I said not to and just let me ask for it when needed but trying to explain why felt a bit of an insult, I just put it to one side and forgot about it tbh in an old saving account. (I have sent him this back now.)

Ok I have been trying to type this message/question for almost 2 weeks now so it will have to do (I am wiped out very quickly) in a way I just do not care as I do not have a life anymore but I was hoping to improve my lot a bit with the savings so I can get out more and perhaps see some specialists (NHS have offered very little help, been waiting 6 years for ADHD assesment and 5 for MH help)
Also, it is not fair to my wife to just roll over with whatever they come at me with.

Basically looking for any advice, should I contact someone now, like a solicitor or wait till they hit me with whatever (given what they are doing to disabled people, I am not expecting them to care about what/why and whens or how w*nk my life is.
If so, who should I contact?

P.S. When did they last change the savings limits? because £6000 is worth about half what it was 5 years ago?


If you read this far, God bless you

Hi David

Thanks for your reply, yeah, I figured as much, bit worried I got close when my old man helped out (which has ended up being the opposite)
I was trying to be sensible with money for the first time in my life as I woke up paralysed with £10 to my name and swore I'd never let myself end up like that again, but when you never leave the house and feel too knackered to get the stuff you should get/need to get it is easy to lose track, stuff like new sofas, fridges, wardrobes would have dented it but I just don;t have the energy anymore?

shouldn't need some specialised advice, then you don't think?
I will add a note explaining the above but not sure they will care given my experience.

cheers pal
G