Interview under caution

[Mell]

It's usually not the Police in my experience (working in local Govt). It might be with someone from the fraud team (might have a different name). When our benefits or environmental health people do 'interviews under caution' they are usually taped/audio recorded and they always have to turn the CCTV off, so make sure they do that Mell - What I do know is that if you haven't don'e 'owt wrong (according to their system) it'll be nothing more than a stressful waste of your time. If you can take someoe with you for support, please do so, they can take notes for you or something - if they are a professional helper in some capacity (legal, benefits traimned etc. that kind of thing) all the better.

Something I do know is that people, for some reason, do occasionally phone up and make shit up. A woman I know who used to work in Local Govt has been investigated 4 times and brought in for these interviews due to what are now thought to be malicious/vexatious phone calls from what they think is either an ex partner or ex-in-law So, albeit rare, than can and does happen.

In many cases, though, it is just a case of a misunderstanding/misconstruance on someon'es part and it can all be sorted informally.

Does your HB get paid direct to a landlord?

Please don't worry too much, talk to us, talk to friends, talk to organisations that can help - ask here if you need suggestions

As others have said above, sounds like you have nothing to worry about have a brew instead of a drink, drink.

e2a: typos etc - bad brain morning - I can't see them all to correct them, bear with me.

Yes it gets paid straight to my landlord and thanks for your advice x

 

[bellaozzydog]

Could it be something to do with your ex husband sleeping over as being perceived as still living with you which may effect your benefits

 

[donkyboy]

do they record these interviews? maybe pull out your phone and say: yeah, well i'm going to record it too.

 

[Thimble Queen]

Could it be something to do with your ex husband sleeping over as being perceived as still living with you which may effect your benefits

That's why I was thinking too.

do they record these interviews? maybe pull out your phone and say: yeah, well i'm going to record it too.

That's not good advice. You can let them know in advance you want a copy of the interview.

 

[existentialist]

do they record these interviews? maybe pull out your phone and say: yeah, well i'm going to record it too.

That won't go down well. You either have to do it by the book, as others have suggested, and advise them in advance, or do it covertly. One of the advantages of taking a friend is that you can covertly record the session while your friend gives the appearance of taking copious notes, then transcribe the recording afterwards. But I suspect the OP doesn't need the additional stress of such shenanigans.

As others have said, this is fairly typical of a system that sees advantage in putting the frighteners on people. They don't "already think you're guilty", but they do like to give you that impression. I suppose, if people really are guilty, it's a quick way to a confession or a slip-up, but to people who are innocent, perhaps naive, and anxious, it makes an already stressful situation ten times worse.

Mell, you'd do well to find out what level of "ex-husband staying over" is considered to be problematic (assuming that information is even available), to reassure yourself that you're in the clear...but the fact that he and you are sharing responsibility for caring for a disabled daughter will, I am sure, help with that. You might want to take some time to write out some notes on what that care involves - whether someone has to get up in the middle of the night, how often, what has to be done, etc. Be prepared to be asked intrusive questions about where he/you sleep (and be prepared to, ah, tilt your answers in the general direction of "on the sofa", etc - you're only countering the assumptions in their filthy suspicious minds).

It sounds like some nosey neighbour has spotted him turning up and apparently staying overnight, put 2 and 2 together, got 5, and then got all malicious. Your neighbour can't prove anything about your sleeping arrangements, and neither can DWP, and you have an utterly reasonable and plausible reason for his being there, although you might take advantage of the interview to ask them if they know if there's any provision for helping you with the cost of paid care for your daughter, while you're at it

 

[klang]

these people assume your guilt .

not necessarily. often it's just a case of the person dealing with your case following procedure, without having made up their mind about your guilt. pls try not to get too stressed over thing you are assuming.
best of luck, and please keep us informed

 

[Celyn]

I have a solicitor it’s a dwp for housing benefit interview x

Does the DWP deal with Housing Benefit now? It used to be that Housing Benefit was dealt with by local councils.

And I don't know whether this might be useful or not, but here's a link anyway.
How to deal with an Interview Under Caution

 

[Mell]

Could it be something to do with your ex husband sleeping over as being perceived as still living with you which may effect your benefits

I assume it is but ruby has aspergers and Tourette’s and sensory processing disorder she is bigger and taller than me and doesn’t sleep as a nurse I work shifts and on calls so who else would know how to deal with her you don’t get child care in the middle of the night when I get called out x

 

[Mell]

not necessarily. often it's just a case of the person dealing with your case following procedure, without having made up their mind about your guilt. pls try not to get too stressed over thing you are assuming.
best of luck, and please keep us informed

I will thank you so much they have stopped tax credits and my rent now so I am in a total state x

 

[Mell]

That won't go down well. You either have to do it by the book, as others have suggested, and advise them in advance, or do it covertly. One of the advantages of taking a friend is that you can covertly record the session while your friend gives the appearance of taking copious notes, then transcribe the recording afterwards. But I suspect the OP doesn't need the additional stress of such shenanigans.

As others have said, this is fairly typical of a system that sees advantage in putting the frighteners on people. They don't "already think you're guilty", but they do like to give you that impression. I suppose, if people really are guilty, it's a quick way to a confession or a slip-up, but to people who are innocent, perhaps naive, and anxious, it makes an already stressful situation ten times worse.

Mell, you'd do well to find out what level of "ex-husband staying over" is considered to be problematic (assuming that information is even available), to reassure yourself that you're in the clear...but the fact that he and you are sharing responsibility for caring for a disabled daughter will, I am sure, help with that. You might want to take some time to write out some notes on what that care involves - whether someone has to get up in the middle of the night, how often, what has to be done, etc. Be prepared to be asked intrusive questions about where he/you sleep (and be prepared to, ah, tilt your answers in the general direction of "on the sofa", etc - you're only countering the assumptions in their filthy suspicious minds).

It sounds like some nosey neighbour has spotted him turning up and apparently staying overnight, put 2 and 2 together, got 5, and then got all malicious. Your neighbour can't prove anything about your sleeping arrangements, and neither can DWP, and you have an utterly reasonable and plausible reason for his being there, although you might take advantage of the interview to ask them if they know if there's any provision for helping you with the cost of paid care for your daughter, while you're at it

Thankyouso much for your kind advice x

 

[existentialist]

Thankyouso much for your kind advice x

Good luck. I hope it is sorted out soon and they restart your tax credits, etc. promptly. If they start to mess you around, it'd be worth getting Citizen's Advice involved, and perhaps even your MP. Even if he/she's a Tory shit, it'll give them a chance to show their true colours.

 

[Mell]

Good luck. I hope it is sorted out soon and they restart your tax credits, etc. promptly. If they start to mess you around, it'd be worth getting Citizen's Advice involved, and perhaps even your MP. Even if he/she's a Tory shit, it'll give them a chance to show their true colours.

I have emailed my mp waiting for a reply x

 

[keithy]

Fucks sake I hope it gets sorted with as little stress as possible x

 

[Mell]

Fucks sake I hope it gets sorted with as little stress as possible x

Thank you at the moment my rent is not getting paid neither child care costs I have had to go sick from work as I can’t afford child care fees and I don’t know how I can pay my bills I need to feed my kids first x

 

[editor]

Here. Have a full stop .

Here. have a thread ban.

 

[HoratioCuthbert]

Here. Have a full stop .

Don't be a dick xx

 

[HoratioCuthbert]

Here. have a thread ban.

Yessss!

 

[HoratioCuthbert]

Thank you at the moment my rent is not getting paid neither child care costs I have had to go sick from work as I can’t afford child care fees and I don’t know how I can pay my bills I need to feed my kids first x

Hope it all goes well, these guys do like to go and fish

Does the DWP deal with Housing Benefit now? It used to be that Housing Benefit was dealt with by local councils.

And I don't know whether this might be useful or not, but here's a link anyway.
How to deal with an Interview Under Caution

The DWP will still pull you in for interview re any benefit probably council will be there too. When you apply for income support its them that usually sort out your housing benefit too or at least get the council to send a form, and they chat to the tax credits too, sometimes I take advantage of that to get the tax credits to get in touch with me first all upset even though I know and am told they all notify each other far quicker than I can get through to them. The paper these guys waste is fucking insane!

 

[Miss-Shelf]

Thank you at the moment my rent is not getting paid neither child care costs I have had to go sick from work as I can’t afford child care fees and I don’t know how I can pay my bills I need to feed my kids first x

What are your nursery like? Could you approach them to let them know what's happened and that they will get £ when your benefits are reinstated?
I used to work in a nursery and situations of non payments arose a lot for all sorts of reasons. When a parent approached the manager and came to agreements and kept them informed it usually went much better than when someone was so overwhelmed that they went into denial and didn't keep the manager in the loop. If you want to keep the childcare place for the future, let the manager know.

Good luck with getting this all sorted. What a horrible position to be put in. It does sound like it will have a happy resolution [from what you and other people have said] but the waiting is so hard.

 

[campanula]

O Darling, hugs and sympathy. I have had one of these, not so long ago, with similar queries (the partner and who contributes what to the household). Firstly, if you can, take a good friend along, or even your ex-husband, as support and reassurance. It is a frightening thing because it strikes at the very heart of your security - a safe roof over your head.
The rules for cohabiting are somewhat vague, regarding what constitutes 'living together' and usually, they will ask who pays the bills, whether you cook and eat together as a family, crucially, does your ex have a different address.

Although it is a horrible thing to have to endure, it is, more or less, a way of addressing the short-comings of the standardised tick box system beloved of ATOS, Serco, GS4. The 'under caution' bit is, frankly, old-fashioned 'putting the frighteners on' behaviour designed to intimidate you - don't be. Deep breath and pick up your courage. Keep the nursery updated - they should be able to extend months of credit. Keep any messages from the landlord. One step at a time.

There are people here with skills and information, who will help and support you. You will get through this awful time.

 

[Mell]

O Darling, hugs and sympathy. I have had one of these, not so long ago, with similar queries (the partner and who contributes what to the household). Firstly, if you can, take a good friend along, or even your ex-husband, as support and reassurance. It is a frightening thing because it strikes at the very heart of your security - a safe roof over your head.
The rules for cohabiting are somewhat vague, regarding what constitutes 'living together' and usually, they will ask who pays the bills, whether you cook and eat together as a family, crucially, does your ex have a different address.

Although it is a horrible thing to have to endure, it is, more or less, a way of addressing the short-comings of the standardised tick box system beloved of ATOS, Serco, GS4. The 'under caution' bit is, frankly, old-fashioned 'putting the frighteners on' behaviour designed to intimidate you - don't be. Deep breath and pick up your courage. Keep the nursery updated - they should be able to extend months of credit. Keep any messages from the landlord. One step at a time.

There are people here with skills and information, who will help and support you. You will get through this awful time.

Thank you so much for this advice for the first time I feel a bit better I pay everything there is no financial connection what so ever between us he has his own address and he eats with the kids when I am at work or he is minding them I have contacted my mp this morning he is going to help I am so scared to have got a solicitor we have separate lives but we co parent totally as a team as adults we did not want the children we brought into the world suffer I can’t sleep or eat or pay my bills at the moment but thankyou for your advice x

 

[ElizabethofYork]

Mell, I'm so sorry you're going through all this stuff. Have a hug (((Mell)))

 

[Mell]

Mell, I'm so sorry you're going through all this stuff. Have a hug (((Mell)))

Thankyou for your amazing support all of you x

 

[campanula]

Thankyou for your amazing support all of you x

This is one of the really good aspects of Urban...which totally counters the heated snark which characterises many (especially political ) posts. Now you are here, do stay. You will find the community forums can be a lifesaver and we are happy to chat (shit) about any number of things including ridiculous debates about breakfasts and the correct way to approach a baked potato (with appropriate reverence for cheese and beans).

 

[geminisnake]

Aww I never thought of doing that what scares me most is these people assume your guilt without any reasonable evidence.

This is deliberate, as someone already wrote they like you to be scared
Please try not to stress about this, it's probably a feck up or a malicious thing as others have said. My sister has had a couple of these, she laughed at them when they asked if her ex was living with her.

There really is little point in letting this bother you for the next 2 weeks

Ok, have you been in touch with the council re: your benefit being stopped? Have you been told to fill in a no income form? Does your council have a welfare rights dept, or office?
Sorry for all the questions but you are entitled to help and it sounds like you're gettting feck all! This annoys me in the extreme

Celyn The DWP tell the council immediately when your benefits change, have done for a good few yrs now. That's how I found out the DWP had fucked up my ESA, I got a letter saying my HB had stopped. Bastids didn't bother telling ME, just the council!!

 

[Mell]

This is deliberate, as someone already wrote they like you to be scared
Please try not to stress about this, it's probably a feck up or a malicious thing as others have said. My sister has had a couple of these, she laughed at them when they asked if her ex was living with her.

There really is little point in letting this bother you for the next 2 weeks

Ok, have you been in touch with the council re: your benefit being stopped? Have you been told to fill in a no income form? Does your council have a welfare rights dept, or office?
Sorry for all the questions but you are entitled to help and it sounds like you're gettting feck all! This annoys me in the extreme

Celyn The DWP tell the council immediately when your benefits change, have done for a good few yrs now. That's how I found out the DWP had fucked up my ESA, I got a letter saying my HB had stopped. Bastids didn't bother telling ME, just the council!!

Thankyou so much for all the help and advice I am new to all this so I haven’t got a clue what I should be doing or what I am entitled too x

 

[A380]

My solicitor has the letter they don’t give anything away it just says under caution I am entitled to legal representation and I am suspected of not reporting a change in circumstances and my interview is the 20 February at ten thirty am x

1 If you have a solicitor do what they advise and say what they advise you to say.

2,If the investigating agency say you are entitled to free and independent legal advice then take your solicitor with you and then 1.

3. If they are interviewing you under caution and under the conditions set out in PACE ( police and criminal evidence act) then it should be recorded and you or your solicitor is entitled to a copy of the recording. Give it to your solicitor.

4. Again If you have a solicitor do what they advise and say what they advise you to say.


Fingers crossed for you.

 

[andysays]

...my interview is the 20 February at ten thirty am x

Good luck tomorrow Mell

Will be thinking of you and keeping fingers etc crossed

 

[Wilf]

Hi Mell, sorry nothing practical to add than the excellent advice you've had. Just hope it gets sorted. And when you've beaten the fuckers, stick around and pass your experiences on. x