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Original poster

Have I committed fraud?

586 replies

Boxedin2431 · 12/12/2025 12:25

I am a single mum to three.

I have a UC review and bank statements are due.
I have three bank accounts and two I have not declared.
The two bank accounts I have not declared get child maintenance paid in from my children’s dads, respectively.
I have not had any other income apart from the maintenance and some help from my dad sometimes.
i transfer money between all three.
Two bank accounts are in my birth name, the third is in my middle name.

Am I in trouble when I declare them?

I only have UC, child benefit into the one I have declared.
i have child maintenance into one bank account and another child maintenance into the other bank account.

Shall I include 6 month statement for all three?

OP posts:
Differentforgirls · 12/12/2025 13:06

TinselTitts · 12/12/2025 13:02

I didn't say it mattered?

Show quote history

Why ask then?

Original poster
Boxedin2431 · 12/12/2025 13:05

Thank you for all of your replies 😪

OP posts:
museumum · 12/12/2025 13:03

So much misinformation on this thread!

  1. should she have declared the accounts? Yes. Not doing so much trigger more investigation. But...
  2. child maintanance does not count as income so doesn't affect how much you were paid. And..
  3. you say you need to spend it all and don't have accumulated savings so the amounts in the account wont affect how much you were paid.

So, you have not fraudulently received extra money. But you might have to undergo more investigation to prove that.

RandomMess · 12/12/2025 13:03

Do you transfer the money from the 2 x CMS accounts into your main account?

You have nothing to worry about just show all your accounts from now on.

Kirbert2 · 12/12/2025 13:02

Boxedin2431 · 12/12/2025 13:01

I’m trying to say that I don’t have any savings. Very clumsily.
Im going to get 6 months statements for each account, close both the other accounts.
I do not want to get into trouble.

You are not going to get into trouble and you are allowed to have 2 other accounts if that is your preference. Don't worry about it.

TinselTitts · 12/12/2025 13:02

Kirbert2 · 12/12/2025 12:54

Why does it matter?

Show quote history

I didn't say it mattered?

Original poster
Boxedin2431 · 12/12/2025 13:01

I’m trying to say that I don’t have any savings. Very clumsily.
Im going to get 6 months statements for each account, close both the other accounts.
I do not want to get into trouble.

OP posts:
Kirbert2 · 12/12/2025 13:00

crossedlines · 12/12/2025 12:55

Many people who don’t get UC tops ups have to spend every penny of their earned income every month just to keep their heads above water. I’m not sure why you think spending it all is relevant?

It's relevant because she is saying she isn't hoarding CM in a secret bank account due to the UC savings limit.

ThisLittlePony · 12/12/2025 12:58

Boxedin2431 · 12/12/2025 12:25

I am a single mum to three.

I have a UC review and bank statements are due.
I have three bank accounts and two I have not declared.
The two bank accounts I have not declared get child maintenance paid in from my children’s dads, respectively.
I have not had any other income apart from the maintenance and some help from my dad sometimes.
i transfer money between all three.
Two bank accounts are in my birth name, the third is in my middle name.

Am I in trouble when I declare them?

I only have UC, child benefit into the one I have declared.
i have child maintenance into one bank account and another child maintenance into the other bank account.

Shall I include 6 month statement for all three?

How old are the dc and how much is your dad giving you?
as long as you’re not going to announce the mn “I only have £12.5k in saving and each dc has £15k in theirs..” what’s to hide?

oviraptor21 · 12/12/2025 12:58

Child maintenance and gifts are disregarded as income.
If your combined bank accounts total more than £6k though, a deduction will be made for capital.

You should have disclosed the other bank accounts. The fact that you didn't may prompt DWP to examine all your affairs more closely.
As long as there hasn't ever been more than £6k or income from other sources you should be OK. Technically you can be penalised but I haven't seen this happen in cases where no advantage has been gained.

crossedlines · 12/12/2025 12:57

And the child maintenance is disregarded anyway, so you could be receiving thousands a month from your children’s dads and it won’t affect UC.

( ikr - Bonkers! No wonder the country’s down the shitter)

LongJoanneSilber · 12/12/2025 12:56

If you're deliberately spending all the money so that you have no savings and hiding bank accounts then maybe consider working full time and getting off benefits. They will catch up with you, three bank accounts without good reason is suspicious in itself.

GovernmentFundedSteak · 12/12/2025 12:56

It disregared but you do need to declare it. I had to give details of my PayPal account too which i hadn't realised until my review. I only use it to pay for things and dont have money going into it though. So whilst the review lady did "tell me off" it didnt actually matter.

Mosaic80 · 12/12/2025 12:56

You need to declare all the accounts but as it’s child maintenance it won’t make a difference. so imo isn’t fraud as you aren’t gaining anything from it, there’s no extra money paid.

crossedlines · 12/12/2025 12:55

Many people who don’t get UC tops ups have to spend every penny of their earned income every month just to keep their heads above water. I’m not sure why you think spending it all is relevant?

Idontknowwhy15 · 12/12/2025 12:55

Honestly, you have nothing to worry about (as long as you don’t have vast amounts of hidden savings in any of your accounts). I declared accounts I hadn’t previously in my review and they were fine with it, just asked for statements. I get £1,200 pcm in child maintenance which isn’t included as income for UC. The review person asked what the sum was, I told them and that was the end of it.

youarebeingsoextrarightnow · 12/12/2025 12:54

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

Bananainpyjamas1980 · 12/12/2025 12:54

No you haven't committed fraud in any way shape or form.
They will just update your details.
Don't listen to people spouting about sanctions etc. Uc are pretty understanding and helpful.

Kirbert2 · 12/12/2025 12:54

TinselTitts · 12/12/2025 12:53

Yeah, why though?

Show quote history

Why does it matter?

TinselTitts · 12/12/2025 12:53

Boxedin2431 · 12/12/2025 12:50

I have one account for UC and Child Benefit.
I have one account for child maintenance from one dad.
I have another account for child maintenance for the other dad.

Yeah, why though?

Kirbert2 · 12/12/2025 12:52

It would only be fraud if you had a secret account you hadn't declared due to savings over 6k.

CM is disregarded and you aren't saving it so they aren't going to do anything about it.

TheSeventh · 12/12/2025 12:51

Just send the number of statements they have asked for, for each account.

Rictasmorticia · 12/12/2025 12:50

Boxedin2431 · 12/12/2025 12:39

There are no savings, it is all spent every month.
I am sick with worry and cannot wait to get this all above board.

Should I write a statement to put with the bank statements?

Yes, people make mistakes all the time. You have had no money that you were not entitled to. Just tell the truth with a covering letter.

snoopythebeagle · 12/12/2025 12:50

Boxedin2431 · 12/12/2025 12:48

Shall I include a years worth of bank statements for each account? And a statement clarifying everything?

You need to speak to your case worker or an advisor. I suspect they’ll want to see all your accounts for the entire time you’ve been claiming. They’ll also want to know why you chose to hide so much information from them.

KnickerlessParsons · 12/12/2025 12:50

KilkennyCats · 12/12/2025 12:30

What was your reasoning when deciding not to declare all your bank accounts?

Think about it, it’s fairly clear to everyone else… including the benefits office.

And what's your reason for having three bank accounts, two of which aren't in your "real" name? Sorry OP, it smacks of you wanting to hide money.