DWP Living Together Inspection

Hello everyone,

I have recently been contacted by someone from the DWP who wants to come round to assess whether my housemate and I are in a relationship. We are simply friends who have shared 2 properties. Despite being open and honest with the DWP right from the start, ot was only when I made my most recent address change did they question our status, something that had previously never been an issue.

I am on ESA Support Group and PIP for severe mood disorders. The DWP man rang twice wanting to "call round this afternoon" or "in a half an hour", presumably to try to "catch" us in the act. I deferred him on two occasions and got my key worker involved. My key worker demanded to know what questions he will be asking and he provided them. We arranged a date where he can come round with myself and my key worker to inspect the property,

The long and the short of it is that the DWP have cocked up and made the error that I was living alone, thus paying me SDP. They are now in a tizz to get this check done with, unfairly, the pressure being transferred to me.

Since the person I live with is a non-dependent and not a carer, I would have deemed myself to be living alone. We lead separate lives, sometimes we're like ships in the night. Is it likely I still qualify for SDP?

Also, my housemate runs a legitimate business from one of the spare rooms. Would the inspector seeing this cause him to question my involvement in it (I have no involvement). I'm worrying because I don't want to lose my SDP nor do I want the stress of any investigation in case they think I am profiting for her business, which of course, I don't.

Any help very appreciated.

Anthony

Hi
Since you live with a non dependent adult who is not your carer you are not entitled to the SDP.

I suppose the non dependent pays their share of all the bills or something, its difficult sometimes to get ones head around all the reasons for DEP regulations except that they aren't made to help any claimants.

You might need to get your house sharer to declare you do not have any part in running or working for the business to back up your statement of non involvement.

Hi The-Optomist,

I stand to be corrected, but as far as I am aware, even though the DWP are coming to your home, you do not have to let the in.

Keep them on the doorstep, answer their questions and show them any paperwork that they request to see. Explain your situation again.

You may want to change your appointment to their office..

They once knocked my daughter up very early once morning (she is a sole parent of a very disabled little boy) She would not let them in, she answered their questions - on the doorstep, and got the paperwork that they wanted and then asked them to leave. They did..nothing happened to her benefits.

In order to be able to enter and look around your home they would need a warrant, and would be accompanied by the police.

If you want to let them in, do not feel pressured that you have to show them around at all. They have no right to look in the various rooms, and by doing so, probably draw adverse conclusions. This is what they want to draw!

Just because they think something looks fishy, does not mean that it is. We all see things differently. Examples: My daughter sees yellow and I see orange (I have a vision defect),. I live alone, but have 3 toothbrushes in the bathroom! I have a car on the drive, but can no longer drive. I have a beautiful fitted kitchen, but can't cook any longer..Do you see where I am coming from?

They will try and see what they want to see..Be truthful and fully upfront, and don't trust the DWP