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Original poster

Is this just getting ridiculous! UNIVERSAL CREDIT

488 replies

ChristmasTime2023 · 05/02/2026 16:06

So had a review with UC today phone call she stated she would up date the journal with what I need to provide.
A full length photo of myself standing outside my front door with the key in the lock!?
Then a letter from the children's school & nursery saying they attend there
A letter from the children's gp
Passport photos
Child benefit award letter
Birth certificates (they have had birth certificates before )

This isn't a new claim either I dont understand why gp letters are needed they want one for me and my partner too.

Also on the phone call asked who I use for my gas and electricity
Ive never been asked these things before seems strange to ask?
Anyone else had a review lately what did they ask for.

Partner works full time if that matters.

OP posts:
NorthXNorthWest · 05/02/2026 19:15

They really should be looking at the bank accounts of everyone living in the house, including the children.

Oldworld · 05/02/2026 19:11

I only know because a family member needed a child benefit letter for their mortgage.

Tableforjoan · 05/02/2026 19:09

Oldworld · 05/02/2026 19:06

You can get a child benefit letter instantly using your government gateway account. The advice is on gov.uk. Or you will have to phone them and wait for Royal Mail to deliver.

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Fair enough I had no idea and most governments things unless you owe them money are very slow.

ArtificialStupidity · 05/02/2026 19:07

dancingredshoes · 05/02/2026 19:02

The checks aren’t exactly that unreasonable to be honest!

I agree. In fact it's slightly concerning if they weren't previously done as standard

We can barely afford to give away the money to people who need it, so we certainly need to make sure it's not going to people who don't need it

Oldworld · 05/02/2026 19:06

Tableforjoan · 05/02/2026 17:47

That’s got to be annoying for schools and doctors. Also how long would it even take to get a child benefit letter. You only get one when you apply. Would be over 9 years out of date now and wrong address.

You can get a child benefit letter instantly using your government gateway account. The advice is on gov.uk. Or you will have to phone them and wait for Royal Mail to deliver.

dizzydizzydizzy · 05/02/2026 19:06

Oh I have heard about these front door photos. Not had to do one yet:

I randomly got a request for 4 months of bank statements, council tax bill snd and a few other documents that I gave them about a year ago,

I uploaded some of the documents about 2 weeks ago. I couldn't upload all of them because they didn't give me nearly enough upload links. I have asked them repeatedly for more links and either nobody answers or I get a message saying that somebody will reply by 6pm on a particular date, but so far they haven't. In a few days, it will be time for them to produce my statement for my next payment. I'm worried that the statement and the payment will be delayed because they don't have the documents they so desperately wanted.

ArtificialStupidity · 05/02/2026 19:06

Be annoyed at all the people scamming the system. That's what makes this necessary

dancingredshoes · 05/02/2026 19:02

The checks aren’t exactly that unreasonable to be honest!

LoftyAmberLion · 05/02/2026 19:00

Schools and GP surgeries have enough to do how completely and utterly ridiculous!

saveforthat · 05/02/2026 18:58

DecisionTime123 · 05/02/2026 16:46

But OP isn't a beggar - that's a rather choice turn of phrase. Did you join up today just to say that?!

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It's a very well known phrase. You are not supposed to take it literally, I doubt the poster meant to cause offence.

daffodilandtulip · 05/02/2026 18:52

Scoobydoobydoo19 · 05/02/2026 18:43

Could you not just take stuff out of the cupboard and put it back when you've taken the photo? (not suggesting you had anything to hide but it doesn't seem particularly foolproof)

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I know right. Or have two wardrobes. Or take a photo of my mate’s wardrobe. The possibilities are endless.

District66 · 05/02/2026 18:51

ChristmasTime2023 · 05/02/2026 17:40

My partner is the children's dad so its not that im not sure why they want it all. I dont mind providing things but so annoying when its things that are not easy to get like gp letters and letters from the school and nursery.

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I would be inclined to send them a video of the nurses and teachers telling them to bugger off

District66 · 05/02/2026 18:51

I own my house and I’m not on universal credit but my front door is stuck and I actually can’t access it via the front
So that would be me buggered then

Scoobydoobydoo19 · 05/02/2026 18:43

daffodilandtulip · 05/02/2026 16:49

Years ago on tax credits, they accused me of lying about being single. I had to send photos of the insides of the wardrobes and bathroom cupboards to prove I lived alone 🤣

Could you not just take stuff out of the cupboard and put it back when you've taken the photo? (not suggesting you had anything to hide but it doesn't seem particularly foolproof)

Original poster
ChristmasTime2023 · 05/02/2026 18:36

Tableforjoan · 05/02/2026 17:47

That’s got to be annoying for schools and doctors. Also how long would it even take to get a child benefit letter. You only get one when you apply. Would be over 9 years out of date now and wrong address.

I have no idea how I get one I dont remember even having one but my eldest is 14 so if you only get one once I probably wouldn't have it now

OP posts:
mypantsareonfire · 05/02/2026 18:33

I’d dress up as Donald Duck and pose outside my door.

I’m very childish though.

Tableforjoan · 05/02/2026 17:47

That’s got to be annoying for schools and doctors. Also how long would it even take to get a child benefit letter. You only get one when you apply. Would be over 9 years out of date now and wrong address.

Original poster
ChristmasTime2023 · 05/02/2026 17:40

gototogo · 05/02/2026 16:50

Is your dp the children’s dad? If not could he have put in a claim? They have been having increasing issues with children being claimed for twice I read recently so there’s extra checks to prevent this. If you aren’t doing anything wrong (which I’m sure you aren’t) then once you have amassed enough evidence that should be that

My partner is the children's dad so its not that im not sure why they want it all. I dont mind providing things but so annoying when its things that are not easy to get like gp letters and letters from the school and nursery.

OP posts:
Original poster
ChristmasTime2023 · 05/02/2026 17:36

daffodilandtulip · 05/02/2026 16:49

Years ago on tax credits, they accused me of lying about being single. I had to send photos of the insides of the wardrobes and bathroom cupboards to prove I lived alone 🤣

Wow thats insane!

OP posts:
Kirbert2 · 05/02/2026 17:01

Penelope23145 · 05/02/2026 16:53

The photos by the front door or holding your own passport requests have been going on for ages particularly for new claims.

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I've claimed UC for going on 2 years now. I just had to show utility bills, no passport so couldn't show something I didn't have.

Nothing like birth certificates, GP letters etc.

StrawberryJamAndRaspberryPie · 05/02/2026 16:59

Jellybunny56 · 05/02/2026 16:15

It is being asked for more now. Full length photo proves it is you, outside the front door links you to that exact address, key in lock shows you have full access and control of the property. Especially if you are claiming housing element, where we are at least they have recently found quite a number of people who are receiving housing benefit for a property which actually they are subletting and receiving rent for.

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Sure except you could just use someone else’s key. What if you’ve dog or house sat? What if you’re the cleaner there or it’s a friends key they’ve given you?Having a key to a property doesn’t mean you live there.

Sevenofthem · 05/02/2026 16:57

They wanted the photos from me too but I have a phobia so they had to do a home visit to check we live here. Also my GP wanted to charge £60 for a letter so they waived that too (I had to show them my online record)

angelos02 · 05/02/2026 16:54

Anything to stop fraud is fine with me. The welfare bill is out of control as it is.

Glitchymn1 · 05/02/2026 16:54

TheOldSwitch · 05/02/2026 16:08

A photo outside the door with the key in the lock seems very strange, it would be easy to fake with AI anyway! What does that even prove, is it supposed to show you really do live there? Surely there's more sophisticated ways to prove such things, like rental agreements or mortgage statements.

You can tell if it’s superimposed.
It’s to check occupancy because thousands of people claim and don’t live here.

Penelope23145 · 05/02/2026 16:54

daffodilandtulip · 05/02/2026 16:49

Years ago on tax credits, they accused me of lying about being single. I had to send photos of the insides of the wardrobes and bathroom cupboards to prove I lived alone 🤣

That's crazy. If he was living there anyone could just have temporarily taken the stuff out? Now that is bizarre !