I've got a question about clients who present as nil income. Mainly asylum/immi clients who have no recourse to public funds but also in circumstances where the clients benefits have been stopped and they've not done something about it for quite a while...
Basically, the circumstances that are most popular are no income, client has no bank account, staying with friends providing free accommodation & food (no financial support)
We have contacted the LSC twice on this issue and have received the following responses:
Firstly, "I have just had a conversation with a Mark Manning of the LSC who is the senior means assessor in respect of evidence of income for a client where they state that they have no income and are reliant on friends
My pickle was that my client is a failed asylum seeker who states that he is reliant on friends for food and accommodation but they do not give him money. Now on file like this I tend to get the client to sign a self declaration to that effect but then the files which are like this have been sent back me as insufficient POI advising that I need to get a letter from the friend(s)
According to Mark this is an unreasonable request for the Reps if the client states that he is reliant on the friends for accommodation and food only…however, if the friends give them money as well then a declaration from the friend would be needed
But where no money given the file can be “Nil” assessed and the self declaration can be placed on file
Many thanks"
Secondly, "I can confirm that in the below scenario a Letter of support from the friend would be required confirming the nature and extent of the support provided. In this case it would simple state that they are providing a place to stay and food. In future cases where a friend is also supplying money the value of this would also need to be stated.
Regards
Doug Garson
Provider Assurance Team"
Does anyone have any idea on the correct way to prove this and if a statement from the friend saying "he's sleeping on my couch" is necessary, or if they do anything other than the LSC have said that will pass audit?
