Have I committed fraud?

And your lack of knowledge.

I've had the odd work coach that's been hard work but most have been very decent - some very very helpful to me.

Also going to say this - not as a response to you but in general. I have been claiming UC on and off for a while but I always worked when I could

I worked some very poorly paid zero hours jobs and when I was offered more hours I always took them. I would have liked nothing more but to come off UC altogether but it's hard when you're working zero hours contracts and you get no in work allowance either

I actually feel really sad that the first thing some people see when they see people claim benefits is that they think they are a scrounger. It's a safety net for people who need it

Ok. Maybe if you break your leg in three places and have to have it pinned back together which means you can't walk for several months - you don't have much option but to claim benefits.

I have a ten inch plate in my left leg and two screws in my right ankle. I broke three large bones - pretty much the worst combination there is to break when you break your leg and I couldn't walk for months. I've never known pain like it in my life - and that's not the first bone I've broken

By the way - I paid taxes for decades.I worked since I left uni in my 20s. I'm not sure why you need to keep making snide digs about spending money you have earned yourself.

I had a job offer just before broke my leg and couldn't take it up. I've just finished a degree part time (online) so I haven't been sitting on my backside doing nothing

People should not be shamed when they need to claim benefits. I've paid far more into the system than I have ever taken out and even if I hadn't. No one needs to be shamed for their life circumstances.

If I wasn't claiming benefits after the leg break I would have lost my home - and it would cost the taxpayer a lot more to house me than it does right now.

I'm actually disabled - all be it temporarily and the disability benefits I get are for a fairly short time period until my leg heals properly

Yes, you have. Distinctly unpleasant. Jump on a thread, have a little stir, then wander off. How delightful.

I find it difficult to believe they worked for the DWP. As a benefits specialist myself I definitely have my doubts.

You might want some treatment for that disturbing chip on your shoulder. Perhaps include that in your online purchases.

Very passive aggressive comment. I posted way up thread some time back that OP should have declared all, but can still put that right. They were wrong not to do so, mainly because it can cause delays because it is the wrong way to treat a review. However. Your snidey little dig there is completely uncalled for.

I mean I wouldn't panic.

As long as you've not got savings and another income you are hiding.
CM doesn't get taken in to consideration

Defo be honest, yes you didn't declare them but you haven't committed fraud by taking money you are not entitled to.
As long as your claiming the correct benefits you'll be fine.

Not running off I’m bored of this and I’m busy online shopping spending money that I have EARNED myself.
i also have had hospital treatment but I didn’t expect tax payers to subsidise me

I hope your leg gets better soon

Not running off just bored

I also have had hospital treatment but I didn’t expect tax payers to subsidise me.

Plenty of people on universal credit work

Oh I'm a scrounger too am I - because I had a triple leg fracture that required hospital treatment?

Away you go. Thankfully most work coaches I have had haven't been as rude and judgmental as you

I bet you won't be responding - you've called people names and now you are running off

You don't have to declare child maintenance.

Best bet is to declare but also speak to citizens advice first. Had a colleague whose neurodivergent and didn’t declare properly they really helped them out do it’s worth talking to them

People like you annoy me you knew fine well your to declare everything. You have a hard working pay check to paycheck family doing it by the book then you not. So stop playing the what if I get in trouble etc and be truthful

You don't have to declare CM.

Universal Credit claimants do not have to declare if they are receiving any child maintenance as it does not affect their Universal Credit claim

From https://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2025-0769/029_Child_Maintenance_Guidance_V5.pdf

Ok I am bored of this now so I will not respond to any further comments. I think I have made my view very clear

Scrounging Fraudster
I don’t work for DWP I used to many years ago
failing to declare income us potential fraud, declare it all and if it’s disregarded then the DWP will disregard it and you haven’t put yourself at risk of an overpayment or worse
ps I could have guessed you mere a claimant as well

Just declare it, say you're sorry ypu didn't declare it earlier - you thought it wasn't counted (which it isn't). They do, however, need to know your overall total income. If you declare it now, I can't imagine they will see it as fraud, but a mistake. You should have declared it from the start, get it declared now and the matter is done with.

If I ruled the world....

anyone who worked for the DWP and called benefit claimants scroungers would be sacked on the spot.

This

It is not attempted fraud. Your use of the word scroungers says it all. If you know anything about universal credit you'll know that millions of people on UC work

I'm on UC just now. I'm not a scrounger. I'm temporarily on disability benefits due to a very bad accident. I would much rather be working

The OP didn't decide anything for herself. She posted looking for advice and she got people like you calling her a scrounger and a fraudster

Your attitude stinks.

This is just not true. It isn’t fraud. And anyone calling benefit claimants scroungers is not someone the OP needs to listen too. Talking utter tripe.

I used to work in DWP it is definately attempted fraud. You must declare everything. The DWP will disregard it if necessary but that’s up to them to apply the rules not for scroungers oops sorry claimants to decide for themselves.
Sorry but it is at the very least attempted/potential fraud

It is not fraud. The OP has had no financial gain from not disclosing these bank accounts. The bank accounts contain child maintenance which is disregarded for UC purposes

Many people get into a mess with their bank accounts before a review. They are not prosecuted.

You don't know what you are talking about if you think not debating two bank accounts when most of the money in said bank accounts is disregarded for UC purposes is fraud

Fraud would be claiming UC when you are not entitled. This is not fraud