Have I committed fraud?

I'm surprised she was able to do this. It's been a while since I opened an account, but I remember them being pretty strict on ID, maybe as part of anti money laundering regulation.

You have to declare them anyway though, that’s the issue. It might not count but the fact that OP hasn’t been honest is what’s going to be the issue.

UC can also decide that spending cash gifts and not declaring is a way of hiding income and keeping your benefits when you shouldn’t (of course that all depends on the amounts OP is receiving).

I accidentally did this on my first review because I genuinely forgot the account and he wasn't paying into it anyway it was an empty account so I switched his "payments" into my main account and closed it they knew about the account from when I claimed UC I just forgot until he was forced to pay (the month after the review) loads of people have dormant accounts

For people snarking about it being a disregarded income blame the paying parents it used to be taken into account and "docked" from your benefit but paying parents were refusing to pay and because there was a presumption of payment children were going without and suffering so it was changed to protect children

Fucksake. No she will not. Maintenance is disregarded.

I missed it the first time. Thanks.

Small, infrequent cash gifts are disregarded but if it was thousands of pounds, she would have to declare that too.

They aren't going to be interested in the odd £50 here or there.

OP, you have not answered the question numerous posters have asked about why one of the bank accounts is opened in your middle name.

If it looks odd to us, it will look odd to the DWP. You'd be wise to have an answer which explains why it was not meant to hide that account.

I am sure - she doesn’t need to declare her maintenance but she does need to declare the income she’s receiving from her own father!

I think you're right (in that she's done nothing wrong), but I wonder if threads like this encourage people to take bad advice. It would have been better if OP had take the 30s to google the issue before coming here. I'd trust gov.uk or CAB over BenefitSeether420 on mumsnet!

Hey op, Take what people are saying with a pinch of salt. People on here love to bash others.

I also get UC into one account and maintenance into another (that I’ve never declared as such) I’ve had 2 reviews in the past 18 months and both times they’ve just asked what that account is (that I transfer from into my main account every month) and I tell them and they ask for 3 months statements and it’s absolutely no issue at all. Maintenance isn’t counted as income, as long as it’s from child’s dads and he would confirm if ever asked you’ve nothing to worry about about ☺️ all they want to see is that you don’t have a stash of money somewhere, I also had to provide PayPal statements the first time for the same thing. Try not to stress yourself

You’ll have to pay it back

Yes, she has. She hasn’t declared all her income and accounts which she is required to do!

This

of Course it’s fraud as you’ve done it intentionally

they can see all your bank accounts btw - that’s prob why you have a review

I would think money you recieve for maintenance of course applies

In the OP.

You are talking utter nonsense. Research before you post.

🙄🥱

Well actually, I hope this post has helped the OP because she has done NOTHING WRONG and therefore doesn’t need to be anxious.

Sorry I don't have time to read all replies in case someone has already said this, and I'm sure someone will have but just in case...

If you say you transfer between all 3 accounts they will spot that easily and come back and ask for the statements for the bank account you transferred this £ on this date to, for the both hidden accounts. Just fess up now and say I'm sorry I didn't even think of these as I only use them for child maintenance, and then hand over the matching 6 months to what you originally sent.

I'm sure you won't have any problems, but it's best to be seen to correct your own mistake than being caught out.

So many of these posts
I have a review and am shitting myself because I have been hiding money
I fail to see how posting on MN helps

OP, ignore the people enjoying winding you up.

Someone asked why have three bank accounts. Sometimes you get an incentive so long as you open an account with a regular income. It's not in itself wrong.

This rule was brought in even before tax credits. Anybody receiving maintenance knows that it is not reliable income. My ex did everything he could to avoid. It is only recently that I have received what I consider a fair amount. It can also stop at any time. It was disregarded because it was causing extreme poverty for children.

Literally first hit on Google for "declare child maintenance universal credit"
contains "Child maintenance payments will not affect any benefits that you and your children get, including Universal Credit." shown on the search results page, from Gov.uk.
This is true as far as I know, but please, please, do your own research as it could have a big effect on your finances if I, a stranger, am wrong!

May I suggest you seek professional advice and don’t ask random strangers on a forum.
It’s not fair of people to put fear into you when they don’t have a full understanding of the protocols and some people just like have a dig and make you feel worse than you already probably do.
i had someone tell me similar doom and gloom outcomes before over a completely different situation and it weighed on me for a year. Turned out everything was fine and I still resent them for it. Hope it works out okay for you.

No it isn’t. Child maintenance is disregarded entirely. As long as OP can show what it is, she has not committed fraud.

Yes. CM isn't guaranteed income because men can be inconsistent with paying it or suddenly decide to completely stop paying it with little to no ramifications.

It literally says on the application you don’t need to declare child maintenance.

They will want to see bank statements for the accounts. Once it’s clear it is one payment from the father and you tell them what it is that will be the end of it.

You only get in trouble for undeclared additional income. There are no sanctions for additional bank accounts, just a ticking off by the assessor.