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.

That sounds excessive, like they’re figuratively making people jump through hoops

Why isn't this all done in person anymore? Like you just go in with your ID and proof of address?

I know things were different during covid but we are years past that now, wild!

I was asked for my passport about 2 years into my claim (made during covid) and bank statements. Nothing as wild as a picture at a door, so easily faked, very odd!

Yeah my next door neighbour has a new porch and front door since the street view pictures. Things obviously change. So glad I don't need to have dealings with this lot

I'd assume that some other fucker's tried claiming in your name for another address - hence the photo of you to match with your passport/driving licence ID and proof of the children's schools.

Yeah just made a random image in seconds

@ChristmasTime2023 if you download the HMRC app you can get all your details on there for the child benefit. Im on UC and never had anything like that.

argh, I've got a review ongoing with a phone call next week so now I'm worrying about all the random shit evidence they're going to demand. I was reviewed a year ago and nothing has changed (I had to do the holding driving license by face and take a photo malarky last time and try and get a paypal/ebay statement so they could see I like buying old DVDs). For the person who said beggars cant be choosers - I'd rather not claim, I used to be a high earner but 2 disabled kids and an ex that fucked off into the sunset cos he couldn't cope kinda forced my hand.

Surely, there is no link between the photo with a key and you living there.

My FIL has a key to my house because sometimes he does the school run when we’re not here. He doesn’t live here, but could very easily get that photo taken.

As if UC are really that daft 😂

What a disgusting turn of phrase given the context.

It’s costing the country a huge amount of money in fraud so it’s not unreasonable

Someone else is doing work and receiving no pay for it to fund UC claimants so not unreasonable for the checks to be fairly robust.

How does it link you to any address? If I had a picture of myself outside a door with a key in the lock, it could easily be a friend's house with friend's key in the lock. With many houses, there is nothing on the door to show the address.

For posters saying its excessive requirements. Fraud is off the scale within DWP and people claim all sorts of scenarios. Kids that dont exist, people who dont live in the country, plus fake housing for starters.
So the people who claim non fraudently might feel its too much but it does stop fraudulent claims carrying on. Although they often start new claims the day after but dont get me started on that!

Well it is relevant if he lives with you. UC is based on household income. If he has never claimed benefits in his own right then having to verify him is pretty common.

This sounds like a scam?! I wouldn't want to send pictures of passports, full address, children's school/nursery, birth certificates?! Do you need to present that in person or send them somewhere? Sorry if I'm being ridiculously wary.

Most people on UC are working!

Adult DCs income doesn't affect parents UC. Until they are 21, when you lose £91ish from the housing element.

And i have verified him, when I first claimed and he was a child. Then again when he went to college. And he actually claims under his own name atm as he's too unwell to work.

Its not a scam. The op will have been through security with the agent. They are uploaded securely and deleted in good time hence whyvpeople are saying they've uploaded same things before.

But how does a picture with a key in door prevent fraud. ?

For work I have to id check regularly, take selfie video and pictures often with driving licence etc. and I STILL can't see how a picture of a key in door proves anything

Which is exactly why they need to verify his age! 🙄
The systems are not that sophisticated that they automatically link to previous verification. For each new claim or review verification of some sort is generally needed. If he claims but isn’t part of your claim then it’s standard for him to be verified as part of your claim.

Depends on the type of fraud. Eg if claimant states they live at X, they might show Y.

Ive heard of claimants being asked to go to a local landmark too. Proves they are in the area at least. Ai photos arent as good as you think they are.

So even though I proved in 2009 that he was born in 2006, they now think that might not be the case? Oddly enough his age hasn't changed. 6 months ago they were happy that I had an adult child. Now I have to prove it? Just seems like a waste of everyone's time!

I had something similar

The silly cow next door would ring them and tell them I was claiming as a single parent when I wasn't (i was!)

They would investigate and believe that whoever had rang them was shit stirring and drop the case

Then she'd ring them back and they'd investigate again

This went on for about 2 years when a snotty lady came round,sat in my lounge snapping question after question at me,trying to catch me out before telling me I 'had' to show her all our wardrobes to 'prove' I was living with my dc

I just told her to crack on as I had nothing to hide,so she did

She found a pair of men's pyjama bottoms in my wardrobe and claimed that was 'proof' I had a bloke living with me-just a pair of blue checked pj bottoms in with my 'female' clothes

Thankfully I was able to prove id bought them for me at the charity shop the day before and they where for my own use

Honest to god,it was inhumane they way she treated me but they never called back for some reason

Registered disabled where? With whom?

UC fraud tends to be committed on a large scale by criminal gangs, by the way, not so much by individuals. I know it's enjoyable for a certain kind of person to believe that fraud is rife among ordinary claimants but sadly, they're going to have to find a new hobby because it's not.

https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/child-benefit/view-proof-entitlement or https://www.gov.uk/guidance/download-the-hmrc-app to get the Child Benefit entitlement proof.