Have I committed fraud?

I just want to post and say that I have some money in an account that the dwp did know that I got - it was a back payment. I put it aside in a zopa account - but that's not a bank account, you can get a bank account with them but I just had an app with savings pots and there was nowhere for me add it on formally via a change of circumstances

I sent a message through my journal and they responded to me saying - any savings under 6k are disregarded for Universal credit purposes

Yes they might ask why you didn't tell them sooner - but I would be very surprised if there's a huge issue over this

The issue would be if you had over 6k in savings and didn't tell them - that's benefit fraud. Even at that - there are people who have made mistakes and didn't declare savings and they've had a penalty and paid back an overpayment

They are not going to drag you through court for not declaring two bank accounts when you have savings of less than 6k

@Boxedin2431 breathe.

I wouldn’t close any, it sounds like this works for you on an organisational level, that’s fine.

Just disclose them to UC now, the normal amount of statements. It sounds like they won’t change the financial conclusion, you could say that because that income isn’t included into the calculations you didn’t think it was necessary to include them. It was, but given it’s not going to change the financial decision I suspect you’ll be fine. They’ll probably just tell you off.

Either way, just let them know and you can sleep easy again .

Suspect lots of repliers are just putting the boot into someone getting both UC and CM, like it's a picnic being a single parent on a low income.

OP, I wish you all the very best. Don't be so anxious - this is very easily sorted.

I agree and to be fair you are asked for details of all bank accounts when you apply.

For fuck's sake, a 21 page thread for a simple google search.

My daughter is a single mum and claims universal credit top up to her wages and help with her rent.
She has 3 accounts, her main one, a separate one for maintenance and another old one she didn't close.
During a review, they were aware of the other accounts and asked for statements, which she provided.
They were fine with the maintenance as she declares it and other accounts had zero transactions.
They were just looking for savings.
You'll be fine

You will be fine. Child maintenance is disregarded.

Ok, it might look like you're trying to hide something but it's not like you're working a side job and raking money in.

The money from your dad, that's fine too.

As forcthe person saying "I hope they throw the book at you".... get a grip. Get your facts right first, you are wrong. The OP has done nothing wrong. There is no book to throw!

😅 To be fair we are both right, technically someone is legally allowed to receive a million pound a month and as long as they spent it they'd be entitled to UC the next month

But realistically someone would struggle to spend 1 million a month and if I was receiving 1 million a month maintence I wouldn't be claiming UC 😅

I know but realistically no one could spend that and isa’s have fairly low limits. You can’t just chuck millions in 🤣 anyway I’m going to stop arguing about this impossible scenario 😅

Ahhh but that's not what I said is it, I didn't say someone with multi millions in the bank, I said someone could receive a million every month for child maintenence ( which they could )

If they spent all of that million every month or even saved it in an iSA for their child, then as long as they didn't have over the allowed savings, they could spend/save that 1 million every month and still be entitled to universal credit

They disregard any amount of maintenence each month

Haha in my little scenario I completely forgot about the allowed savings 😅

I would be a big spender if I had the available income but even I’d struggle with a million a month 🤣

Technically as long as it was spent by the next assessment period it would be allowed but definitely questioned and closely monitored!

I can answer based on what op has said, which is what we should all do. The INCOME of child maintenance and cash gifts w\in those account will be disregarded and as there is no money left in them at the end of the month, there is no capital to disregard.

They will care if she omits accounts during the review, but they will not care that she has not declared them in the past. I have had a review AND work for the DWP so I see how claim reviews work every day.

It is disregarded, but you still need to declare all your bank accounts otherwise it looks like you are trying to hide something.

yes child maintenance and child benefit is disregarded from their calculations. But you must be honest about finances and if you have 3 accounts you show 3 accounts. It is up to the assessors to disregard the child benefit and maintenance not for you to hide them. Follow the correct process and you will not be penalised. Hide things and they wont be happy and you could be done just for hiding things. It is pointless trying to hide things anyway. These days HMRC and the authorities can access your information behind the scenes. When they see the transfers to and from accounts they will know you have other accounts. Just show all. The different name will not be of concern if you explain it. Just be honest then keep a check of how they do the calculations to ensure they disregard the parts that need disregarding.

When any income becomes savings over the lower capital limit it will be tariff deducted regardless of the source unless a disregard is allowed by a DM. If it has accumulated to over £16k it will end UC entitlement. The monthly disregard for CM is one thing, if it becomes savings it can be assessed differently. In this case the OP hasn't got accumulated CM from what they have said, but its a point worth considering.

Yes and I think the OP will upload everything, it is just easier to declare everything from the start to prevent the stress going forward.

Declare all the accounts ~ 6 months statements should suffice
Particularly as you say you transfer money from one to another ~ UC are therefore likely to find reference to your others accounts amongst the details you have submitted.
UC often check with banks direct when given new bank details of where you want UC to be paid into, whether there are any linked accounts ~ so best you declare them, rather than wait from them to ask you about them

You are definitely wrong. No one with multi million pounds in the bank will be given UC, regardless of where that money has come from 😆

I believe she actually would be because CM is disregarded. It would be different if the CM was less and she saved it putting her over the savings limit allowed but if the CM was over the savings limit without saving it, it would be disregarded because it is CM.

She definitely wouldn’t still be entitled as she’d certainly have rather over the allowed amount of savings, 🤑however I get the point you are trying to make and all those shouting fraud are simply wrong!

No it's not 🤦‍♀️😅

They don't take maintenence into account,

She should of told them about the bank accounts but it isnt fraud as they wouldnt include maintence into account anyway. Her children's fathers could pay her a million pound a month and she'd still be entitled to benefits

Yes but as you know, there will only be a delay if the claimant doesn't complete the items on their to do list by the requested date/contact UC to let them know if there's a problem doing that.

I dislike the way UC was implemented and many of the rules around the way it's enacted but I've spoken many times to advisors and other staff on behalf of people I work with. I generally find them helpful and willing to work with claimants to avoid problems.

At the review, she should declare them. It isn't a big deal though because she has no savings in them that would make her entitled to less UC and any CM payments are disregarded anyway.