Universal credit

[Emem13]

hi just got this should I be worried about it ?
really worried I’m going to get in trouble for benefit fraud

It appears that you've failed to report a change in your guy
circumstances promptly. You need to tell us by 12 September
2025, the reason for not telling us sooner and what you've done
to correct this. You did not remove your daughter from your claim when
she left your household on 10 June 2024 .
Reporting changes is something you committed to do in return
for receiving Universal Credit. If you don't do this and you're paid
too much Universal Credit, you'll have to repay any overpayment
and may also have to pay a £50 Civil Penalty.
You can get more information about a Civil Penalty
We'll decide whether you'll have to pay a Civil Penalty based on
the information you give us. If we don't hear from you by
12 September 2025, we'll make our decision based on the

Well, I mean - is it true?

How old is your daughter?

Are their facts correct? That she moved out but you didn’t inform them and continued to receive benefits based on her living with you as a dependent?

If so the consequences seem pretty clear, they’ll work out the overpayment and you’ll have to repay it along with a £50 fine?

Just be honest and tell them everything, They normally take back overpayment in installments

Are they right? If so, you’ll need to pay back the overpayment. Then it looks like a £50 fine on top. Did you not realise you were still claiming for her?

21

21

So you claimed she lived at home with you for over a year - is she in education or else surely uc for her would have stopped

but yes if made a false claim you would need to pay it back and the fine

Yes it is

Were you claiming for her as a dependent?

She moved out yes and I didn’t tell them but I actually didn’t think I needed too as stupid as it sounds

Then if it’s true what are you not understanding? If you didn’t remover your DD then you obviously will need to pay back what you owe.

They are not mind readers, you need to tell them about changes in circumstances. Sooner rather than later.
If there's an overpayment then ask to pay back in installments or deducted in installments from an ongoing claim. If this is going to cause financial hardship then get help from your local CAB or a debt and benefits advice charity.

I mean if you didn’t tell then she left and you were being paid for her or had a higher rent allowance because of her then yes you’ve commented benefit fraud.

You will have to pay back what they overpaid and may get a penalty be thankfully they are not looking convict. Thats not a couple of months mistake it’s a year of claiming what you were not entitled too.

Why did you not tell them? 😵‍💫

How old was she when she moved out? Was she a dependent - were you getting child element because she was still in education (not uni)
Do you rent - did you receive a higher allowance due to her occupancy?

Do you get housing costs in your UC?

Does your daughter moving out mean that you now have one more bedroom than you are entitled to under the rules?

The child element usually stops at the end of August after a child's 19th birthday, so it's unlikely to be that that's been overpaid. But if you're now in a property bigger than you're actually entitled to, there could be a backdated deduction for "bedroom tax" (if you're in social housing) or an overpayment of housing costs if you've been getting the LHA rate for (eg) a 2-bed property and you're now only entitled to the one-bed rate if in private rented property.

Will I get a custodial sentence or need to go to court cos someone on Facebook said I have committed fraud and they won’t take it lightly

I’ll be very surprised if that happens. At most hopefully it’s just a £50 civil penalty and overpayment of housing element to repay.

As it says on your journal you'll have to pay back any over payment and if they feel it necessary they will also make sure you get a fine.

Worst thing to do is bury your head in the sand. Reply stating your error. If there are any mitigating circumstances then include them but otherwise I'm afraid you will have the over payment deducted and probably face the £50 fine.

If you ignore it altogether they will have no choice but to take you to court.

How were you claiming for a 21 year old ?

She wasn’t. The daughter was down as living with her so she must have got a bedroom entitlement for her. This means that she may have been paid the LHA housing rate that she wasn’t entitled to and housing element may have been overpaid

No, you will not! Invitation to PM.

That means Private Messages. I will talk you down from the edge. Can you see where you can do Private Mesages?

Three red dots at the top of my name?