Universal credit- delay in reporting change

[Stressedout1980]

Hi mumsnetters, hoping you can help. I haven’t been on benefits before so I don’t know how it works. My daughter however has been on UC for a while and after jumping through hoops, managed to get herself a job and had an induction on Monday working a few shifts this week. She only updated universal credit today. So not to drip feed she has additional needs. A helpful friend has just told her and me that she has broken her contract with them and could be severely fined and even prosecuted for not reporting the change immediately. She has now panicked and thinks she is going to prison. Can anyone advise on what might happen with her reporting 5 days after she started please? I can only see advice to do it asap to avoid overpayment. Thank you

It's paid in arrears isn't it? I can't see there being much of an issue.

Um no. The helpful friend doesn't sound very helpful.

They'll calculate what she's entitled to at the end of the payment period/month and adjust accordingly. If she happens to owe anything (which wouldn't be much if we're talking about 5 days) then they'd ask her to pay it back.

Really not a big deal

She will not be fined or prosecuted. Her UC will not change until her wage starts being reported through HMRC to DWP.

She’ll be fine, she has reported it and the wages won’t have come through from HMRC yet. Even if she is somehow overpaid, it will be such a small amount it will be a compliance issue that is handled by deducting the amount overpaid from future payments- absolutely not a court or criminal issue

Thank you it definitely only is 5 days and only 3 shifts. I will speak to her tonight and reassure her

"Helpful" friend is an absolute bellend.

Your dd hasn't even been paid yet so she hasn't double claimed.

She started a job 5 days ago and has updated UC.

She'll continue getting paid as not employed until her employment pay starts and they'll re calculate. They'll then calculate monthly based on what HMRC have her income as.

Well done your dd btw. It's not easy when you have AN and you certainly don't need ignorant fuckers making you panic incorrectly.

Why couldn’t this friend just stfu seeing as they have no clue what they’re talking about. You don’t even have to inform UC that you have a job as they see the wage slips from HMRC anyway. UC is also paid in arrears based off of the assessment period so she won’t be fined or prosecuted or anything like that

Nothing will happen - that 'friend' is talking out of her arse frankly! - the earnings will be reported through HMRC and will only apply from her next assessment period. Tell her not to worry. I work for a related organisation and 5 days to report is prompt!

Thank you. She has been through absolute hell this year and I am so proud of her for finding work. It’s not the best job but it’s a start and we have never navigated this system before.

Thank you this is reassuring. She hasn’t even passed probation yet or got her contract (another matter) but it is a national company!

From experience, absolutely nothing will happen. You can’t inform them in advance, it’ll only take effect at the next calculation period, as others have said.
I honestly wouldn’t worry.