SW Inspectors

HairMare

Hi guys just wondering if there is any where I can find details on the remit of social welfare inspector - ie what they are entitled to ask me and not. I have had two meetings lately and found questioning very off putting.

Examples -
are you sure you were never married ? (i think id know...)
after stating i have no kids, still repeatedly being asked was i receiving maintenance ?
why do i live in the area im in when im not originally from here (here 20yrs & have a mortgage...) ?
car insurance, lpt proof, bank statements from 5 years ago etc

any help or guidance appreciated tks in advance

wokingvoter

I can't post links but, on the welfare.ie website search for
SWI Code of Practice for SW Inspectors and you will see a concise description of their remit
Then search the site for
Comments or Complaints
Tells you exactly how to make a complaint
It's worth pointing out that an Inspector doesn't make desicions about your claim
A Deciding Officer requests that an Inspector compiles a report, the DO reads the report and makes the desicion.
The Inspector cannot make a recommendation about your claim to the DO as part of the report
If you want to see the report, or any other files SW have on you you can request a copy of it under FOI by just writing and asking for it .

HairMare

Tks for that its very helpful. Is it possible to meet a DO ?

wokingvoter

HairMare wrote: »

Tks for that its very helpful. Is it possible to meet a DO ?

There's nothing to stop you asking to meet the DO dealing with your case.
If you want to make a complaint you should follow the procedure as stated above.
If I were you I think I should let the report etc. take its natural course and await the desicion.
If your not happy with the desicion you can ask for a review and/or appeal and present your evidence to support your appeal then
It looks like your trying to pre-empt the desicion before any desicion has been made.
But you should really do what you think is best.
I would really advise against making s verbal complaint about a Inspector or any other member of SW staff
You really need to put it in writing and keep a copy. I'd also send it by registered post or hand It in but make a note of who you gave it too.

HairMare

Tks for that at the min im just trying to be as inforned as poss. Id be very slow to complain anyone, but sometimes if you make people aware you know the procedure for same it can have the desired affect. I just found the questioning strange to say the least. Lots of other stuff I could go into but too case specific.

HairMare

Is it normal practise for CWO to go around houses looking in windows if no one home ?
I ask, because my neighbour said she noticed a guy lurking around my house to day and looking in the windows when he got no answer - she popped out and asked was he ok (phone in hand and ready to ring cops ) and he told her he was CWO !!!

wokingvoter

HairMare wrote: »

Is it normal practise for CWO to go around houses looking in windows if no one home ?
I ask, because my neighbour said she noticed a guy lurking around my house to day and looking in the windows when he got no answer - she popped out and asked was he ok (phone in hand and ready to ring cops ) and he told her he was CWO !!!

Yeah it's pretty standard. I really wouldn't get annoyed about this, because he's just trying to do his job.
Far more important is that your application process is moved along. Did he leave a message for you to contact him?

HairMare

Its the looking in the windows im disgusted with. He was even in my shed. Im raging to be honest. Car wasnt in drive, no public transport in my area so he knew no one there.

HairMare

I understand he has to do his job, but its what makes people so apprehensive and distrustful if of system. What other company looks in their customers windows ? ? ? Im not trying to shoot messenger, any dealings ive ever had prior to last few weeks were always professional, paperwork repetitive but you get over that.

punisher5112

HairMare wrote: »

I understand he has to do his job, but its what makes people so apprehensive and distrustful if of system. What other company looks in their customers windows ? ? ? Im not trying to shoot messenger, any dealings ive ever had prior to last few weeks were always professional, paperwork repetitive but you get over that.

Company??? Customer???????

Its social welfare there is so much fraud they have to investigate everything thoroughly.

NIMAN

If you have nothing to hide then surely you have nothing to worry about.
Let them ask whatever they want.

Do you think someone reported you?

As for their questions, surely the authorities of the state could find out themselves if you were ever married or not? Or if you ever had kids?

RossieMan

You're not a customer. You're getting/ attempting to get money from the state. They need to ensure you aren't lying. Its good to see checks like this being done and then simply not handing it out. Same with the constant need for updated bank statements, keeps people on their toes at the very least.

Avatar MIA

NIMAN wrote: »

Do you think someone reported you?

They do seem to going above and beyond in this case. For whatever reason they are suspicious.

HairMare

I dont know whats going on to be honest. More paperwork requested everytime I meet someone. Ive alot going on, which I was upfront and honest about. Can u bring a witness to ameeting with cwo or inspector ?

HairMare

RossieMan wrote: »

You're not a customer. You're getting/ attempting to get money from the state. They need to ensure you aren't lying. Its good to see checks like this being done and then simply not handing it out. Same with the constant need for updated bank statements, keeps people on their toes at the very least.

Yeah dont get me wrong. Im just fed up of jumping hurdles when receiving nothing from them. They refer to everyone as customer on their website.

punisher5112

HairMare wrote: »

I dont know whats going on to be honest. More paperwork requested everytime I meet someone. Ive alot going on, which I was upfront and honest about. Can u bring a witness to ameeting with cwo or inspector ?

Witness for what.

Are you an adult???

They have to ask personal questions.

RossieMan

They don't just hand over money because you say you need help/ aren't working.

Maybe your story isn't believable and they are checking your creditibility? Random checks at home is a good thing. The more checks and hoops to jump through the better, might encourage the longer term unemployed to do something.

HairMare

Because to be honest some of there questioning is bizarre to say the least. Too specific to go into.

NIMAN

You say you are getting nothing from them. Are you in recept of SW?

HairMare

getting diddly squat currently - change from set payment to means tested payment - told by social office it would be straightforward - I was ringing deciding officers office after the first month and for roughly 2 weeks being told tis all grand just wait on payment. then when i started to look for sw payment from cwo i was told inspector has file, need to wait to meet inspector, now apparently inspector still hasnt enough paper work in front of them yet - had meeting - it was long and nit picking.

FloatingVoter

On Benefit, you're really claiming back your own money and tend to get left alone. Once the JB expires and you wind up on Allowance, they will nitpick.

Being clever, they will show during business hours not after, notice if there are mens clothes in the wash, find 1500 p/m coming in from the same feeder a/c into the current a little suspicious.

Oh, and they do like to be social and check with the neighbours about your welfare, being friends of the family and all. Completely creepy and legal.

And believe it or not some SWIs go out of their way to look the other way and OK payments to people they know need it even though it would be a genuine disallowance.

It is the way the cookie crumbles and who you get. As in all things.

Balagan

Whatever about looking in your windows, the Inspector does not have the right to enter any of your property, including your shed, in your absence and without your permission.


When you commenced the process of moving from a non means tested payment to a means tested one, you should have been supplied, upfront, with a list of all the documentation required. If some of the documentation supplied is not regular or complete, they will ask for extra. That is par for the course. The questioning is indeed intrusive and thorough. No two ways about it. The inspector will very often go over all the written information you have supplied on the forms in order to ensure that it is correct and that you do not give different answers in person. That is routine.

The delay in processing your Supplementary Welfare application while awaiting their decision is odd. The CWO is now known as the Dept of Social Protection Representative and they are all working on the same information.

Maybe write a very short letter asking why is there such a delay on your interim Supplementary Welfare application and mentioning that the inspector went into the shed. Would suggest keeping it to those two points only. Register the letter.

HairMare

Tks for that, if I had missed an appointment or if they had trouble contacting me gawking thru the windows I could just about handle but ive met them numerous times at short notice at their offices. My claim includes self employment which is very small currently and this seems to be the crux. I dont have family local and have been needed down home due to an acute situation again which they were told. I didnt know anything extra would be needed till 7 / 8 weeks in. Im not sure what to do. Lots of other stuff I could go into but its far too specific to me.

FloatingVoter

To reinforce the above, SWIs are legally within their rights to enter a place of work....ie, chipshop, pub, computer games company.
A back garden shed - no. Even a guard needs a warrant for that. As for looking in windows deep on your property, we're in very grey territory there.
So unless you have a small sweatshop churning out iPads down the toolshed, I'd consider you to have the high moral ground here.

HairMare

FloatingVoter wrote: »

To reinforce the above, SWIs are legally within their rights to enter a place of work....ie, chipshop, pub, computer games company.
A back garden shed - no. Even a guard needs a warrant for that. As for looking in windows deep on your property, we're in very grey territory there.
So unless you have a small sweatshop churning out iPads down the toolshed, I'd consider you to have the high moral ground here.

its a private residential property detached but in a quiet cul de sac, he did a full walk around property - shed door was possibly a jar anyway in fairness - nothing in there but recycling bin ... but still a bit of a cheek. ive no idea what he was hoping to find in all fairness. if i had stacks of cash or a sugar daddy i don't think id be wasting my time filling up forms and being asked silly questions. The trip out to my house would have taken an hour round trip min from his office. They have to check everyone I understand that.

Balagan

HairMare wrote: »

Tks for that, if I had missed an appointment or if they had trouble contacting me gawking thru the windows I could just about handle but ive met them numerous times at short notice at their offices. My claim includes self employment which is very small currently and this seems to be the crux. I dont have family local and have been needed down home due to an acute situation again which they were told. I didnt know anything extra would be needed till 7 / 8 weeks in. Im not sure what to do. Lots of other stuff I could go into but its far too specific to me.

A lot of paperwork has to be produced for a means tested payment when the person is self employed. Details are here: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/unemployed_people/self_employed_and_unemployment.html

While very understandable that your family needed you in an acute situation you are aware that you need to be seeking work and available for work in order to qualify for Jobseekers Allowance. Not being available raises a flag and the Dept of Social Protection has to take that into account especially if it is an ongoing situation where you are the only family member who can help out and it necessitates you being away from your residence.

Good luck with your application. It takes a lot of focus and box ticking and it is the same for everyone.

HairMare

Balagan wrote: »

A lot of paperwork has to be produced for a means tested payment when the person is self employed. Details are here: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/unemployed_people/self_employed_and_unemployment.html

While very understandable that your family needed you in an acute situation you are aware that you need to be seeking work and available for work in order to qualify for Jobseekers Allowance. Not being available raises a flag and the Dept of Social Protection has to take that into account especially if it is an ongoing situation where you are the only family member who can help out and it necessitates you being away from your residence.

Good luck with your application. It takes a lot of focus and box ticking and it is the same for everyone.

I understand all of the above, but in my case its getting ridiculous, I was even told in one appintment that I shouldnt have been applying for fulltime work. I thought that hilarious in all fairness.

Avatar MIA

HairMare wrote: »

I understand all of the above, but in my case its getting ridiculous, I was even told in one appintment that I shouldnt have been applying for fulltime work. I thought that hilarious in all fairness.

Are you claiming a disability? That's the only preclusion I can think of for not seeking full time work.

Skatedude

HairMare wrote: »

Its the looking in the windows im disgusted with. He was even in my shed. Im raging to be honest. Car wasnt in drive, no public transport in my area so he knew no one there.

if they ask, then by all means i'll show them around.

but if i find a stranger sneaking around my home or my mothers home (shared garden) Why wouldnt i defend my myself or my mother? Are they just asking to be killed?

HairMare

No was told I shouldnt have being applying for full time positions whilst on back to work. If I hadnt proof of applications they would have prob said the opposite...

wokingvoter

From what I can make out you were at one stage awarded BTWEA
Something has happened and a review of your entitlement is currently underway?
Is that right?

strandroad

Are you selling online or something similar? Could they be checking for storage of stock?

HairMare

mhge wrote: »

Are you selling online or something similar? Could they be checking for storage of stock?

No idea to be honest

HairMare

wokingvoter wrote: »

From what I can make out you were at one stage awarded BTWEA
Something has happened and a review of your entitlement is currently underway?
Is that right?

Yes and it came to its natural end, applied for jobseekers with self employed bit, not sure correct name for it currently. Basicly equivalent of x / os. Might be working se 1 day one week, 4 days next etc