Local services compliance telephone interview

Hi Gordon

So sorry to trouble you again but today mother-in-law rang saying she'd received a message on answer machine. She could not understand it well as it was muffled but message said something like, "someone in your property is on benefits, press 2 on keypad for more or 9 to delete." She didn't. When she dialled 1471 and dialled the number it was unobtainable - The dialling code is 01664 - Melton Mowbray.

My husband rang Attendance Allowance on her behalf and they said they would never leave a message like that.

We are worried it is a scam but also worried in case it's in connection with my husband's upcoming compliance phone interview. We are thinking that whoever's made the malicious allegations about my husband was doing the same to his mother or father. His mum has a few months left to live with terminal cancer and his father has cancer and heart disease. Do we need to speak to anyone about this?

Regarding my husband's situation, I know your advice was not to volunteer information unless requested by compliance officer but would it be helpful for husband to send copies of recent medical reports since last ESA decision to compliance officer in advance of telephone interview, as if nothing else it proves his condition has not improved since last ESA decision; in other words no change of circumstance?

It has to be someone who knows us for them to be able to provide enough details to DWP such as names, addresses and telephone numbers and to know about the benefits. As I said before we never discuss such matters with anyone.

We are very frightened and don't know what to do. Last night I took too many Diazepam because I felt so distressed and couldn't sleep! My husband went to CAB yesterday and they have logged it and told his to return after interview if necessary. Husband has also made an appointment with GP as he wishes to ask if she will prepare a medical report about his numerous conditions which, under the circumstances, he's prepared to pay for.

Is there anything else we can do at this stage?

Also, I would be interested to know if any members on here have had a similar phone calls or message left on answer machine?

Many thanks

Hello Gordon

Today, my husband spoke to the Compliance Officer again. It was not the interview which is to take place soon.

The compliance officer let slip that someone has anonymously reported him for doing something (don't know what). No more information was forthcoming at this stage.

We have an idea this is someone in our neighbourhood that has a grudge.

How do you possibly prepare for a compliance interview when you don't know what exactly the allegation is/are? Although, we can assume it could be to do with moving around or standing.

My husband does try to walk outside daily but does so with considerable pain and don't walk far and has to stop frequently. His is on opioids and many other medications for other conditions and was recently investigated for Motor Neurone Disease as blood test revealed muscle denervation and fasciculation's consistent with MND. Whilst MND has been ruled out at this stage the electrical studies (EMG) for MND showed damage to root nerve in spine attributed to symptoms of fasciculation's. At the moment, it's not to say MND won't develop but in any case he has already been diagnosed with conditions affecting the lumbar spine, ankle and foot and knee plus more.

He has seen health professionals for all these conditions recently and it's all ongoing.

He's also awaiting a decision on a total knee replacement. And, he has obstructive sleep apnoea and uses a CPAP and has REM sleep disorder and possibly Periodic Limb Movement Disorder. It's so bad we can't sleep together as he kicks and lashes out in his sleep.

He is on a large amount of medication that has side effects.

Is he supposed to be a prisoner in his own home? He's been told by physiotherapists to try to improve muscle tone as he has muscle wastage. He tries to walk on daily basis but he's always in a lot of pain and limps and he has to stop often.

Of course, the idiot who's reported him probably knows nothing about doing the activity safely, repeatedly, reliably or about the amount of pain he's in when he does walk and the after effects.

I wished these evil timewasting people would get a life of their own and stop interfering in other people's.

There is no need to prepare for a compliance interview unless you have something to hide which I am sure is not the case with you, None of us want to be claiming benefits but life has left us little option, I would much rather be working but alas that cannot be.
Thanks to the television programmes on people claiming benefits, many people think we are all scroungers and layabouts, using their money for drink and drugs. Having watched some of these programmes, I started to get annoyed at these people who clearly were abusing the system, forgetting about how other people might be looking at me. It is easy to make assumptions when you only see a part of someones life. We have all seen flash cars parking in the blue badge spaces, with young, fit looking drivers leaping out and jumped to conclusions without knowing the facts. I have got some strange looks when parking my convertable, which is obviously not a disabled car, is it. .
If more nosey neighbours / good citizens alerted the DWP when they suspected a breach then just maybe more of the wronguns would be caught.
It is obviously worrying when someone has reported you, whether maliciously or for some other reason but try to think of it as the system check at work. We would all be glad if more lazy, idle scroungers were caught but sometimes the system also looks at genuine claimants, like yourself.
So rather than worrying about it, try to look at it as the system working and with nothing to hide it will soon be cleared up. We don't hear about the compliance team when they do get it right, in some ways it could be seen in a positive way that they are following up on information, albeit in your case, wrongly.
I know the system is not perfect and life isn't fair but I wear rose tinted specs and like to think that outcomes will be right and justice done. I wish you and yours the best future you can have.
D

I know it must be very difficult not to worry over the forthcoming telephone interview but please don't. It sounds as if you have the required documentation and have done nothing wrong. Try and compile a list of questions you might like to ask the interviewer regarding this and jot down their replies for future reference. Hope this helps.

That is more or less what my husband said to me earlier, "don't want to be claiming benefits but life has left me no choice, I would much rather be working. Really nice to hear words of support from members. Thank you.