Do we need to tell UC - CoL payment put me over savings limit for 20 days

[Cantaffordnotto]

Been saving hard and living frugally to hopefully pay of a debt situation, didn't account for Cost of Living hardship payment and changed gas bill payment resulting in having £400 more than I'm supposed to have in savings for 20 days.

At the worst I think it means I have been given £4.35 I shouldn't have?
(may be half that because of their accounting period)
I don't want to be dishonest but scared of triggering some sort of investigation or having my claim paused.

Anyone know what are you are supposed to do?
I only just realized when I paid the rent and bills which has taken it back down to allowed amounts.

from what i read and may have read it wrong the COL payment isn't taken into account for benefit cap etc, but as its such a small amount you would have to pay back i would give them a call to make sure, as they like any excuse to stop payments

If your that close to the limit and the moneys to pay of debt, why don't you just pay some?

I hope you're right.
I did try calling and got a very confused handler (where I got the accounting period bit from) who didn't want to put it down as a change of circumstances and wanted me to contact the debt management department. Sat on hold repeatedly before having to give up.

Sprogonthetyne
I've been asked to pay it as an exact amount in two payments.

It doesn't count

Any benefits paid are ignored as savings for the period they're paid for.

Tiger Rag really? If that's correct it's brilliant news. Thank you!

Yes, it only becomes savings when it isn't spent in the assessment period it relates to.

Thank you both so much!
It explains some of the handlers reactions as they were going round in circles about dates and seemed surprised I was trying to report it.