Fraud

Hi All,

Update some good news some bad . Finally got my Wrag rate of benefit and also backdated money from July 2012 , I did get the transitional protection money for being transferred from IB but only for 365 days you loose that when you get anything IR. so finally that has pleased me a little more money to live on plus I can pay my debts off.
The bad news is I had an appointment with my solicitor yesterday and she doesn't think I stand much chance of winning my appeal for DLA Fraud Case although they have not got a lot of evidence but what they have got gives them a fairly good case, but my solicitor deals with criminal law and she said I need to get a solicitor that deals with civil law as she has no idea how the tribunals work it is not her field of law , I have been trying everything to find a civil solicitor that deals with welfare tribunals and I have had no luck at all, I have got my tribunal date 18/11/14. I am thinking to withdraw my appeal but I don't know where to start as my solicitor said the DWP may want to take it all the way now. I am in a terrible state again, any advice I would be very grateful.


Chrissy V

chrissy v wrote: Hi All,

Update some good news some bad . Finally got my Wrag rate of benefit and also backdated money from July 2012 , I did get the transitional protection money for being transferred from IB but only for 365 days you loose that when you get anything IR. so finally that has pleased me a little more money to live on plus I can pay my debts off.
The bad news is I had an appointment with my solicitor yesterday and she doesn't think I stand much chance of winning my appeal for DLA Fraud Case although they have not got a lot of evidence but what they have got gives them a fairly good case, but my solicitor deals with criminal law and she said I need to get a solicitor that deals with civil law as she has no idea how the tribunals work it is not her field of law , I have been trying everything to find a civil solicitor that deals with welfare tribunals and I have had no luck at all, I have got my tribunal date 18/11/14. I am thinking to withdraw my appeal but I don't know where to start as my solicitor said the DWP may want to take it all the way now. I am in a terrible state again, any advice I would be very grateful.


Chrissy V

Hi CV,

Yes, some good news, and some not so good news !!

You need to try and gain the representation of a qualified Welfare Rights Officer or a Solicitor who is qualified in Welfare Benefits Law and has experience of Welfare Benefit Fraud cases.

Have you tried all the potential sources below :

Where to get advice

The Law Society and any Law Centres that may be in your area may be a good place to start.

You could also search all the Solicitors in your area to see whether they have a qualified person who can help.

Have you asked the Criminal Law Solicitor whether they could point you in the right direction ?

The problem is that Legal Aid is no longer available for Benefit Appeals at the FTT.

I would still search around and not give up, you may find someone to represent you Pro-Bono. (Free)

bro58

Thank you Bro58 for your reply

I have been ringing round all day I have rang the tribunal to see if they know anyone and they don't as they are independent, that was on my solicitors instruction, she said she would do searches for me to see if there is anybody, I just find it very strange that even solicitors don't know anyone, she has still got all my papers and she is going to get an advice letter typed out for me and also send my paperwork back to me.
I am so tired of fighting now, it has been 3 years in February 15 since this whole journey started for me and I am so mentally drained also I'm still waiting for an appointment with another councillor my GP made the referral in May.
If anyone knows of a solicitor in the Leicestershire area that can help me with the civil side of this Fraud case please let me know as I am really clutching at straws now, and I want it all to be over I need some peace from all this, at least I won one appeal against all odds I am grateful for that.

CV

chrissy v wrote: Thank you Bro58 for your reply

I have been ringing round all day I have rang the tribunal to see if they know anyone and they don't as they are independent, that was on my solicitors instruction, she said she would do searches for me to see if there is anybody, I just find it very strange that even solicitors don't know anyone, she has still got all my papers and she is going to get an advice letter typed out for me and also send my paperwork back to me.
I am so tired of fighting now, it has been 3 years in February 15 since this whole journey started for me and I am so mentally drained also I'm still waiting for an appointment with another councillor my GP made the referral in May.
If anyone knows of a solicitor in the Leicestershire area that can help me with the civil side of this Fraud case please let me know as I am really clutching at straws now, and I want it all to be over I need some peace from all this, at least I won one appeal against all odds I am grateful for that.

CV

Hi CV,

Yes, you would have only needed a Criminal Law Solicitor if the case had of been going Criminal Court Proceedings, which it isn't.

You need a Solicitor who has qualifications/knowledge of Benefits/Welfare Law, or a Qualified WRO.

Ideally, either of these should have experience with FTT alleged benefit fraud cases.

Even if you cannot gain representation, you have nothing to lose by continuing with the appeal.

The Tribunal should make allowances for the fact that you have no representation, if that is the case.

You could try re-contacting The CAB to see whether they have any suggestions.

bro58

Thanks Bro58,

I do agree with you that I have nothing to loose and my personality is to fight I hate injustice of any kind maybe the Libra star sign in me , but after almost 3 years in total with all of this my mental health is very very poor I really don't know if I could get through 1hour 15 minutes of the tribunal which has been allocated it is a very different sort of tribunal because of the fraud element of it, I was a complete wreck after 2 and a half hours at the IUC which my solicitor said I had been treated very harshly, I am still undecided as to what to do, and everyone wants me to withdraw my appeal.
I will keep trying to get some help till I make my mind up, but if anyone on here knows of a solicitor that can help me please let me know on here as I am really desperate.
Thank you for your support I don't know what I would have done without all of you this last couple of years or so.

CV