[mmace]

Hi all - am newish to this site, wish i had known it existed before, you all look so supportive and experienced. Just a bit of background, i look after my 11 year old son with left hemiplegia. Basically, i also work and inadvertently have gone over the limit allowed to claim carers allowance and now i have to attend a fraud investigation v soon. It is totally my fault, my only excuse is that i have had such major medical stuff going on with my son in the last 2 years that it just disn't occur to me, no other excuse or valid reason i can offer.

Problem has occurred because i moved him to a more expensive childcare option 18 months ago, it takes all of my money and i just lost track of the fact i can only allow half of it in the figures against my earnings to be entitled to ICA. I still look after him more than 35 hours tho. I got the letter about the fraud intvw on xmas eve, have been sick with worry since, Will i go to prison? will it be all over the local papers? will they fine me thousand of pounds? am sick with worry about it all, my intvw is 2nd week of Jan, then my son is dure for major surgery the following week, i am totally frantic.

I know i did wrong, i am mortified, it really was unintentional. when they sent me forms to say i was under investigation back in July, i and my employer filled it all in truthfully, not trying to hide anything.

Any advice would be really helpful, thanks so much

[jbx]

Hello and welcome to the hemihelp forum.

I do not have much experience of benefits, but I think that usually, the agency would rather come to an agreement to repay any amounts overclaimed, than take anyone to court. Especially if you can show that it was an oversight in stopping the claim rather than deliberately giving them wrong information.

I would recommend that you take as much information as you can to the interview. Copies of all the forms you have filled in, if you have them. Dates and amounts that you think you have been paid wrongly. And details of your income and spending (bills, grocery receipts etc), so that you know how much you are able to repay each week/month if that is what they expect you to do.

You could also try contacting the Citizens Advice Bureau who may be able to help you more.

Hope your son's surgery goes according to plan.

from jbx

[anne]

hi i had exactly the same problem years ago with my second eldest,
don't worry one little bit,
when it happened to me my then marriage was ending, i'd started work and back then it was paid via payment book
i never thought there was a problem
i kept cashing the book and they kept sending me new ones,
the benefits system knew i was working, so i thought everything was ok
just explain what happened, they'll be ok about it,
all they'll do is ask you to pay it back
first they'll probably ask for it to be paid in full
but just offer installments, so long as they get their money back they should be ok
and as it was an honest mistake there should be no fine or anything horrific
good luck and relax
anne
xxx

[jenno282]

hello,

Firstly, let me reassure you that you will not go to prison and your story will not be in the papers and you will not be fined thousands of pounds. It was a mistake and it happens all the time. They are just being heavy handed trying to scare you.

Also, Citizens Advice Bureau will be happy to help. I'll gather some information for you and will post again tomorrow,

Jennifer :-)

[jenno282]

hello,

I had a look at some information from DirectGov and Citizens Advice and I think your best bet would be to go see a CAB Adviser. They can run through the interview process with you and help prepare for it. They might also be able to help maximise your income through other benefits, tax credits etc, especially useful if money is tight, and find legal aid if you qualify.

You have told the truth as best you knew, and your honesty will stand you in good stead at your interview. Serious benefit fraud carries harsh penalties, but from what you've said, I doubt this would apply to you.

Take care,

Jennifer :-)