Have I committed fraud?

[Boxedin2431]

I am a single mum to three.

I have a UC review and bank statements are due.
I have three bank accounts and two I have not declared.
The two bank accounts I have not declared get child maintenance paid in from my children’s dads, respectively.
I have not had any other income apart from the maintenance and some help from my dad sometimes.
i transfer money between all three.
Two bank accounts are in my birth name, the third is in my middle name.

Am I in trouble when I declare them?

I only have UC, child benefit into the one I have declared.
i have child maintenance into one bank account and another child maintenance into the other bank account.

Shall I include 6 month statement for all three?

It clearly states child maintenance isn’t included as income when you apply for UC. They may find it odd that you’ve deliberately with held your other bank accounts but if it is just child maintenance then it shouldn’t cause to much of a problem.

You will have to declare all 3 as theyll see youv transferred to and from these accounts. If you have savings of less than 6k youll be fine. 6K to 16k is the threshold for benefit to be deducted. Please dont stress. You will have to explain transactions just be truthfull. You have nothing to worry about. Good luck

If the only cash you are getting into these accounts is child maintenance then whilst you should’ve declared them, you have not got any more universal credit than you should’ve because child maintenance is disregarded when universal credit is calculated. Ignore chisel tip and those like her who want to make you feel bad and just disclose the accounts and forget about it. Chisel tip, perhaps be a bit more understanding when you’re posting. And make sure you get your facts straight before scaring people with incorrect information.

Don't worry, just tell them now. Maybe try the UC helpline? Take no notice of the people trying to frighten you.

Completely incorrect information. Child maintenance is disregarded for UC and OP has said they have no savings. The Benefits Agency may want access to the undeclared accounts for previous years to see if OP did have savings at anytime over the allowed threshold. If not, most likely Benefits Agency will just update OP's info onto their system.

Don't worry, just tell them now. Maybe try the UC helpline? Take no notice of the people trying to frighten you

Yes, prisons are full of people who haven't declared their PayPal accounts and their kids' premium bonds.

Hanging's too good for them!

Why are you using a bank account in a different name as well? Do you think we came down in the last shower?

Absolute rubbish! @Boxedin2431 as long as it's child maintenance, and it's clearly traceable, you need to declare the money and provide the statements but the money will be disregarded. If you are spending the money you receive each month, it is not savings.

You'll be fine, as long as you havent breached the savings threshold, they won't do anything. You've said its all spent every month so you'll be absolutely fine 🙂

Oh shut up.

ah ok, so there’s no problem with her not declaring the two bank accounts?

Probably. Why wouldn't you declare them? The fact all is spent every month is neither here nor there. It's not complicated, declare what you have

This

As long as there's not savings above £6000.00 in any of them, and hasn't been since you started claiming UC then it won't be a problem as CM is not included as a income. I think you are meant to declare it, though, but it won't of made any difference to your UC payment. They may want bank statements for the whole of the period you have been claiming UC though. If money from your dad has been £20-30 now and again, or you have proof that you're paid higher amounts back, then again, shouldn't be a problem. If dad's been giving you £200/ 300 + regularly, then yes, this could be a issue.

They will be able to see from the bank statement they do have, money coming in and out from other accounts, so they will ask you anyway.

Child maintenance isnt classed as income for assessment purposes.

you should still declare it all for you own peace of mind. It’s not worth the stress is it ?

You are allowed to receive child maintenance and have done nothing wrong there. Just include all three bank statement. You won’t have to repay your money unless you have savings which you say you don’t.

This, as long as you've no savings it won't matter. Don't worry.

I think they are but they need to see 'em before they disregard them. You've been very silly, haven't you?

Check out the CAB site as it has all the information that you need but basically it seems not to impact your UC but may affect any council tax reduction (check with your local council)

Child maintenance is disregarded completely and has been for a long time. So, they won't be looking at the amounts, but you should still have declared the accounts so yes include statements for all 3 accounts. They'd only be looking closely at the amounts and doing sanctions etc if you'd accumulated savings. As you haven't, it's important to declare the existence of these accounts with an explanation of what they are. They may ask you to provide statements going further back than 6 months to prove what you're saying is true

Yes you committing fraud.All money has to be declared,you may not even be entitled to UC.

Oh and to the poster who commented that they spend their maintenance and aren't entitled to UC, you can check your eligibility on a benefits calculator

@Grendel7 child maintenance is not included for the calculation of universal credit or any of the benefits it covers like local housing allowance

Everything is income!