Please could anyone help re compliance & fraud

Hi,

I am at my wits end and i have no idea what to do.

I currently claim incapacity benefit as i suffer severe anxiety and depression. As i had claimed this for a few years i was told by a friend i should try to apply for DLA.

I applied approx 4 weeks ago and recieved a letter to say that they were contacting my GP for a medical report.

Then.... this morning i recieve a letter saying i will be visited on monday by a Customer Compliance Officer as something has 'arisen' which they need to investigate.

I rang up and the man on the phone said he didn't have my case file in front of him but he said it was due to an 'Allegation' being made.

Now i know that i have done absolutely nothing wrong, i take citalopram & propranolol daily and am due to visit the mental health team on wednesday next week.

My question is - Am i being investigated due to somebody reporting me (ie. Somebody that knows me) or could it be something that i have put in my claim form for DLA that has led them to believe i am lying.

As i can gather, an allegation would be from another person??

This is driving me round the bend and i am not going to be able to rest until all this is over.

Please dont send links to 'Customer Compliance' issues in this forum as i have been through them all and cannot find the help i need.

Thankyou in advance for any help.

I also had a letter and then a visit from the Compliance officer. You say that an 'allegation' has been made against you. So this is probably nothing to do with your DLA claim in my opinion. The Compliance officers appear to be the second one down from the Fraud officers. The compliance officer who visited us, and yes, it was an unsubstantiated allegation against me, was pleasant and polite, took my statement, told me I was completely exonerated, but warned me to be 'careful'. It was an unpleasant experience, but not terrifying. Somebody has dobbed you in, basically. If the allegation is false or you have good explanation for whatever it was, you have nothing to worry about. Please do not panic! Best wishes,Lainie

Lainie,

Thankyou so much for taking the time to reply. My husband keeps telling me over and over to stop worrying as i have not done anything wrong but my anxiety is making it balloon in my mind and i just keep thinking 'but what if'.

I am still so scared - i even turned the tv on and some fellow had been done for benefit fraud on the news.

Why the hell would anybody do this to me? And how on earth has anybody got a right to judge someones level of mental illness. If, i had lied and said i had a false leg or something and i clearly hadn't then someone would have every right to 'alledge' something fraudulent.

Thanks again Lainie, i really appreciate your reply x

Hi lellipup, If you look through the members section on thie site, one of the moderators had a recent visit by the compliance officer because somebody had reported him. Although an allegation was made against him it was completely unfounded and quite rightly no action was taken. I know what you mean about the worry etc but in the present climate the press and TV are being very anti benefit, Which is what this coalition Govt want them to do. Also the moderator who had a visit has already said on this forum that he has known for claimants to actually get an increase in their benefits after a visit by a compliance officer. Like you say and your husband you have done nothing wrong so stop worrying. Best Wishes

Thankyou Jeff. I just cant sleep with it though
I went out for my mums birthday the other week and have visited close friends sometimes and i am worried that they might just think my life is all roses and i am not ill at all?

I also have quite a large nice house (which we bought when i was able to work) and i am afraid they will also judge me by this when they visit. NO-one can see what is on the inside though....in my head.

Thanks for your kind reply, lellipup. We also have quite a 'posh' house etc, but this did not appear to make any difference to the Compliance Officer. My husband was also 'do not worry, nothing to get upset about etc etc', but during the visit it was him who got more upset than me! Its the unjustifiable intrusion into a person's privacy that is so hard to take. I wonder if the 'snitch' line informers had to leave their name and address if they would be so keen to dob in their friends and family. All I can say is keep calm, maintain a polite and helpful manner. Tell them exactly what your problems are - your husband can speak for you if you find it all too traumatic. I wrote down all my medical conditions beforhand and recited the list to her. Be prepared to sign the statement they write as you speak, but my advice as an ex-lawyer is to read it through very carefully, and get it amended if it is not what you said. Hope it goes ok for you. best wishes, Lainie