Universal Credit review and savings over £6,000 for private surgery

[LilyLily1999]

Hi all, I’m really stressed out at the moment and getting into a right state. I receive universal credit and currently don’t work due to mental health difficulties, I also receive pip. I’ve been trying to save money for reasons I’ll mention below and uc have now told me I need to update my details (I assume they’re going to review my account). I’ve just gone over the savings limit and I’m now really scared they’ll stop my universal credit.

I’ve always been really anxious when it comes to money as I’ve previously been in debt due to a bad relationship. Start of last year I was told I most likely have endometriosis and I’ve not been able to convince for nearly 2 years, I’m on a nhs waiting list but the wait times are very long. I was originally trying to save some money to buy myself a car as I struggle to get out the house with my anxiety/paranoia so it’d help, however after being told about the endometriosis and having fertility issues I decided I instead should save for private surgery. I desperately want surgery as I’m scared the longer I wait the worse it’ll get and I’m scared I’ll be fully infertile.

Universal credit have my old phone number and I’ve been unable to update my number as you have to do it in person and I struggle to get out the house. They sent me an email two weeks ago about a note in my journal, I can’t login due to no longer having my old number so I had to call them to see what it was about. I had another email today, called them again and have been told my account needs updating and as I didn’t reply to the message on my journal they’ve suspended my payments. I’m waiting for someone to contact me in a few days to talk about my account details etc but I’m terrified they’ll stop my uc due to the savings I have. I had 7.5k saved but after bills etc I now currently have 6.6k so I’m just over the limit, as mentioned I’m trying to save for private surgery, my partner told me that I can save on uc but after now researching it seems you have to declare anything over 6k and I’m over that amount.

I’m beyond anxious and panicking that they’ll take my savings or completely stop my payments, obviously I was using some money to save but a lot of it was for basic things in life and I wouldn’t get by without it. I’m dreading the person phoning me and I know I’m going to be a mess when they’re talking to me, I really wanted to save for my surgery as not being able to conceive is killing me but I don’t know what will happen now.

Do not have a child with this man. Keep working on your financial independence.

Never agree to be a housewife unless he gives you unconditional money and pays all of your pension, childcare etc without questioning what you're spending anything on.

Unpaid work, sod that.

You're allowed to have up to £16k in savings to still qualify for UC.

I dont want to benefit bash, but whats your plan for when you have a child. Them little buggers are expensive.

So you've been ttc for two years with a man you don't live with and can't trust with money. Or you do with live him, but say you don't for benefit purposes...

You haven't got too much in savings but I would really urge you to work on your MH before having a baby. You say other people struggle to leave the house and still have kids and they're fine but you have no idea of the impact on the kids. Children need to leave the house and be socialised and to have a baby when you are like this would be utterly selfish. If your MH is bad now it will be 10 x worse when you factor in a screaming baby and sleepless nights, believe me.

I am also in agreement that your partner does not sound like he will be a good candidate to be the father of your child for reasons given by other posters.

Wouldn’t it be lovely if those who work and those who work with severe health conditions could ALSO save £6,000

there are so many aspects of this that look like not-great decision making

is Endo surgery really the best use of your savings? what about getting your mental health sorted first?

is it really a good idea to have a child if your mental health means you can't leave the house?

and it seems even worse to have a child with a man who you can't trust with money and who you are not married to.

I'm sorry if this seems harsh OP, but if you are unmarried and dependent on benefits and have poor mental health, TTC does not seem like a good step.

why not spend some of the savings to improve your mental health and get a job, even a part time job or volunteer role? Building your independence will do so much more for your long term future than having a baby.

I have the same question as the end of your post

OP how would you manage a child?

Do you have a partner, is planning a family something you've done together?

He sounds really trustworthy and just the kind of person you want to have a child with. I’m sorry but this is going from bad to worse. What if your relationship breaks down? You have no job, no financial means to support yourself and could potentially have no home and poor mental health. I’m sorry but your priorities are all wrong here.
you should concentrate on getting your mental health sorted, find work so you don’t have to rely on a bloke (and one that you trust not to spend your money) and go from there

mine was pretty severe when it was found, my bowel was folded in half so hormonal wouldn’t have touched it. They had to remove it and then put my organs back where they were meant to be so over 8hr surgery with two surgeons

You do work for him and he doesn't pay you. That's illegal.

It could even look as if he's not paying you to ensure you can still claim benefits.

If you can't leave the house, and he doesn't live with you, where do you do this work?

If he would use your £6k if he got his hands on it "in his business", is the business even viable - does it make any money?

Oh OP, you’re having a hard time on here but I just wanted to add my thoughts.

I suffer with my MH, I have on and off for years. We have had 4 children and raised them to adulthood and it was tough but my MH stayed just about manageable. At times I worked, sometimes I couldn’t manage work but then I ploughed all my energy into the children and being able to leave the house was vital. Even with two of us living together, I had to do loads. My DH worked shifts so regardless of whether I was working there were so many things I had to go to - parents evening, speech day, carol concerts, drama recitals, football, rugby, dance shows… my 4 children at one point attended 4 different schools! If my anxiety had been where it is now, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.
I’m in my 50s now. My MH is appalling really. Over the last few years I’ve been sectioned about 7 times. I struggle to leave the house. The “kids” are all in their 20s but even so, they miss out.
So please use your savings on your MH as a priority. There’s no greater need imo. And good luck!

Spend the money on therapy first otherwise how are you gonna leave the house to get to the hospital?

Do not give the money to someone else. This is fraud and will get you into trouble.
Just tell them the truth. The deductions will be small.

I think you need to reassess your needs. You have MH issues, can’t leave the house, rely on benefits, have a partner you don’t trust - what kind of life would a potential child have in that scenario?

Why don’t you live with your partner?

Is this a wind up? You want a baby, but can't leave the house or work & don't live with your partner. Is that really the life you want for a child?? You've got money saved up - but want to keep it all despite the rules being crystal clear.....
There's so much wrong here.

Does he never stay over? Are you planning to have a child and not live together?

Your savings will and should affect your UC claim. You have avoided telling them by not updating your phone number. Don't be surprised if they do a full investigation and it will be obvious that you have a partner if you are working for him, unpaid and that won't be treated favourably.

If you give your savings to your partner, that would be fraud. It would also indicate that you might not be able to teach your child right and wrong to become a decent citizen.

They will simply ask for bank statements. But do be honest OP about what you were saving up for.

I honestly don't think trying to have a baby in your situation is the right choice now

‘As much as possible’ ? Does it really sound to you like she’s got so much?

Absolutely and posters telling her to move money ie commit benefit fraud.

Your universal credit will only be reduced by a tiny amount and you are only just over the limit. And they can't take your savings. However, you need to concentrate on getting well first before even thinking about having a baby as that can be very stressful.

What tests did you have to indicate endometriosis or is the assumption based purely on symptoms/lack of conception? There are many reasons people struggle to conceive they don't tend to jump straight to laparoscopy for fertility now as the surgery itself can cause more scarring. They would be more likely to suggest a hycosy (tubal patency test) first and then go from there. Have you had that yet?

Okay OP so you want to have a baby but cant leave the house. Who will take the baby to doctors appointments, do the food shop, eventually tale the child to and from nursery school, after school activities, weekend outings, playdates. Have you considered any of the above?