I’ve had 4 payments of universal credit, started in August. I applied after speaking to citizens advice and they went through eligibility with me - i didn’t realise I would be entitled at all until a friend mentioned I should look. I do get child maintenance through a private arrangement with my ex husband. He pays directly into my account through standing order every month. It’s been the same amount for about a year. I put a log in my journal when I first applied to say I get child maintenance of x amount.
I’m suffering with a lot of anxiety annd anxiety spirals and was recently worried it might be different for private and CMS arrangements so I rang UC tonight just to make sure. She thought I would have to declare it somewhere so to put a log in my journal again as a case worker might not has been assigned at the start so wouldn’t have seen my original log. So I have and put it is through a private arrangement and just checking that still doesn’t get counted as income even if it isn’t through CMS. Now I’m spiralling thinking what if they say it does count and I should have declared it as income from the start. What will happen if that’s the case?
I have texts from my ex where we agreed the child maintenance amount. I’m only eligible for the child element due to my wage (full time and I have a mortgage) and if the maintenance was to be included as income, I wouldn’t be eligible at all.
How long will they take to reply or will they reply at all if nothing is to be done.
It’s all so new and now I’m worrying I’ve been receiving it when I shouldn’t be at all.