Universal Credit - Can I claim if not on electoral roll?

[Hello030303]

Hi,

Just looking for advice, ideally from someone who maybe works for DWP?

I lost my job recently after 7 years, I have moved back in at my Mums and can claim benefits as I don’t have much in savings. I was living with a friend and paying rent to her but moved to my Mums as it’s too expensive and I don’t want to claim housing benefit as well as UC. It’d just be easier to live at my mums. Plus we aren’t that close anymore and I’d feel awkward living there unemployed. Her boyfriend lives there now she’s fine for money.

All my details such as bank details are now registered in my Mums address.

My worry is that I’m not on the electoral role as living at my Mums address and I wasn’t at my friends house either. I know it might sound ridiculous but I’m terrified to go back on electoral role as I have had a stalker for eight years who has done everything he can to track me down. Police have been useless the entire time as he’s never badly attacked me (he’s been violent but it’s not something I can prove, I didn’t end up in hospital).

He’s tried to recruit a friend who worked in the NHS to find out my registered address from my records (who thankfully told me). He’s also gone to ex friends of mine, tried to convince them to try and have me sectioned. He’s rang my friends screaming down the phone trying to find my address. I know people will say go to police but anyone who’s had a stalker will attest they are useless.

I just don’t know if electoral roll is something DWP check. I want to avoid being on the electoral register again because of all the ways he’s tried to find my address. He has no idea my Mums address thank goodness. I’d rather not claim if I’m going to have to register my official address on the electoral roll.

I would not be claiming council tax benefit so is this something they would check? I’d only be claiming the UC. I wouldn’t be claiming housing benefit either.

You have a legal obligation to register and can be fined if you don't.

DWP do not check electoral role

Really are you sure? How do you know this?

You can go on the register and tick a box so you're not on the public register

I work for DWP on UC

When you claim, you will have to confirm your ID, and if you claim housing costs you have to prove those as well, but at no point is the electoral role checked to see if you are on there

I'm not on the electoral role because of my job and issues with a previous patient so you can tick to be hidden to searches.

Oh ok thank you. 🙏 Do they not do a credit check though? (Which flags you aren’t on electoral role)?

I would have thought they’d have checked as it’s proof of your address. Do they really only go by passport, bank accounts etc? Because I’m worried it’ll flag up that I’m not officially registered at property (even though passport and bank accounts will be registered there)

Sorry for so many questions I’ve just not claimed before so have no idea how it works.

No credit check, you just need to provide some forms of ID, if you are not claiming any housing they wont need to see a tenancy etc.

When you make your claim and have your initial appointment you will be told what forms of ID you need to take in

I've been on (legacy) benefits for years due to disabled ds and I wasn't on electoral role until last year.

Ok great thank you, I would have thought it would have flagged up as fraud if I’m not officially registered with the council at that property

Were you paying council tax?

I think that still means you’re on the electoral roll but just hidden? I looked into that but I’d be too worried about it being able to be accessed.

I work with people living in temporary housing, they are definitely not on electoral roll and all in receipt of UC. They will ask you for evidence of ID and address but driving licence should cover that.

I'm fairly sure that's not true.

Would only cause a potential issue if you were claiming housing, but even then all that is needed is proof or occupancy (such as utility bill, driving licence etc) and proof of liability (tenancy agreement)

What happens if you do not register
You must register to vote if you’re asked to do so and you meet the conditions for registering, for example you’re 16 or over and you’re British or a national of an EU or Commonwealth country.
If you’re asked to register and do not, you could be fined.
You will not be fined if you have a valid reason for not registering, for example a long stay in hospital, or you have severe learning difficulties.