Is this just getting ridiculous! UNIVERSAL CREDIT

[ChristmasTime2023]

So had a review with UC today phone call she stated she would up date the journal with what I need to provide.
A full length photo of myself standing outside my front door with the key in the lock!?
Then a letter from the children's school & nursery saying they attend there
A letter from the children's gp
Passport photos
Child benefit award letter
Birth certificates (they have had birth certificates before )

This isn't a new claim either I dont understand why gp letters are needed they want one for me and my partner too.

Also on the phone call asked who I use for my gas and electricity
Ive never been asked these things before seems strange to ask?
Anyone else had a review lately what did they ask for.

Partner works full time if that matters.

I own my house and I’m not on universal credit but my front door is stuck and I actually can’t access it via the front
So that would be me buggered then

I would be inclined to send them a video of the nurses and teachers telling them to bugger off

I know right. Or have two wardrobes. Or take a photo of my mate’s wardrobe. The possibilities are endless.

It's a very well known phrase. You are not supposed to take it literally, I doubt the poster meant to cause offence.

Schools and GP surgeries have enough to do how completely and utterly ridiculous!

The checks aren’t exactly that unreasonable to be honest!

Be annoyed at all the people scamming the system. That's what makes this necessary

Oh I have heard about these front door photos. Not had to do one yet:

I randomly got a request for 4 months of bank statements, council tax bill snd and a few other documents that I gave them about a year ago,

I uploaded some of the documents about 2 weeks ago. I couldn't upload all of them because they didn't give me nearly enough upload links. I have asked them repeatedly for more links and either nobody answers or I get a message saying that somebody will reply by 6pm on a particular date, but so far they haven't. In a few days, it will be time for them to produce my statement for my next payment. I'm worried that the statement and the payment will be delayed because they don't have the documents they so desperately wanted.

You can get a child benefit letter instantly using your government gateway account. The advice is on gov.uk. Or you will have to phone them and wait for Royal Mail to deliver.

I agree. In fact it's slightly concerning if they weren't previously done as standard

We can barely afford to give away the money to people who need it, so we certainly need to make sure it's not going to people who don't need it

Fair enough I had no idea and most governments things unless you owe them money are very slow.

I only know because a family member needed a child benefit letter for their mortgage.

They really should be looking at the bank accounts of everyone living in the house, including the children.

Some of the things they ask for are utterly bizarre. I've seen them ask for a photo of the person outside the front door but with the door open a little and also showing the door number (I don't have a number on my door!). Also a photo of the person inside the property but next to a window so they can see what is outside/opposite your property. What 😂

Accounts in children's names are irrelevant and not counted for UC purposes.

I've just been asked to provide DS2s birth certificate as they can't "verify" him. He's been on my claim since I opened it in 2016 and they would have seen it then. Plus he's 19 and is only listed on my claim as an adult that lives with me. I don't get any money for him anymore. His existence has no bearing on how much money I receive so I have no idea why they need it!

Apart from the fact that some people have money put into their children's or the accounts of others to hide cash in hand payments. Yes, it is a thing.

The way the DWP treats claimants is despicable (see my PP directly below.). I suspect they also break the law - I am disabled and if go to the Job Centre, I end up in bed feeling ill, which is obviously very bad. About 6 months ago, they wanted to see my bank statements with me present. They refused to allow me to upload them. They refused to pay me until they had seen my bank statements. I ended up having to go to the Job Centre and make myself ill because I had a choice between an appointment there in a week's time or a home visit in EIGHT weeks. Totally unacceptable and probably breaking the law by disadvantaging disabled people.

I am very unwell (they know this) yet they have no qualms in making my life unnecessarily stressful and difficult, which quite often gives me a flare up of my symptoms and yet I have always done everything they have asked.

If you don't want to do the checks, don't claim. Take issue with the cheaters, able bodied and registered disabled, who have made these additional steps necessary.

@littleorangefoxwhy is it bizarre when so many people abuse the system?

Yeah that's not legit, there's no way they can ask for a photo of you outside your front door! (I mean it could be ANY door)!

I work in UC reviews, we ask for bank statements, housing proof, childcare proof, self employment or self reported earnings proof, proof of children or young people if you're NOT getting child benefit.

They don't need to see child benefit letters (no one gets them anymore anyway) as HMRC report directly to DWP. It sounds like whoever rang you is either scamming you, or hasn't a bloody clue what they're doing.

@NorthXNorthWest

The poster didn't say they didn't want to provide the evidence. They wanted to send it electronically. Making someone go in person when they are unwell is unnecessary.

Your payment won't be delayed (unless your claim has been suspended and you would have a journal message to tell you if it was suspended)

If you don't receive the housing element, then they shouldn't have asked for your tenancy agreement!

Without trying to sound er, prejudiced, did the woman who called you have a British accent? We have a lot of people who aren't British working in UC reviews and more and more there seems to be misunderstandings on what's required and what's not. I think things are getting lost in translation.

There’s a phone number you can call to get a new one sent for this purpose. It’s annoying though. There’s enough admin in life already!