AIBU to think UC should not count money from my boyfriend as income?

[lena105]

I’m dealing with a UC overpayment and they’re now questioning transactions on my bank statements. I made notes for them - books, clothes, hairdressers etc.

UC didn’t even cover my rent or basic living costs. (I used savings to cover the difference, overdraft and occasional help).
I never bother keeping record these transactions.
Sometimes I’d pay for things upfront (credit, klarna etc) and my boyfriend would later pay me back. It wasn’t income, just reimbursements or help.

We do NOT have combined finances at all, we dont live together and the relationship is very volatile (we break up a lot).

Can DWP treat that kind of money as income?
And can they question spending that is not technically covered by UC.

I understand that if i was reckless with money I get from them they had the right to question it, but not money gifts from others.

They only care about where it came from, not where it is going.
You could blow the whole amount you get on Pokemon cards, and they wont care.

Well given they know your income (whether that be UC or money through employment), they can ask questions about your expenditure if it’s significantly out of step with what you have coming in. They should do that as part of checking your entitlement and yes you should need to evidence where that money comes from in case of off the books employment.

Well I'd say in "normal" relationships boyfriends don't regularly, or often, give their GF money or gifts do they!
I worked for HMRC for 39+ years and dealt with sex workers sometimes. In interview it is fairly easy to establish whether a woman is in a genuine relationship or is a prostitute.

I've heard the "he gives me gifts and money but is just a boyfriend" often. Didn't wash.

I assume DWP has the same approach.

My ex gave me a credit card that he paid off every month.
I think being given gifts is pretty normal in a relationship.

Interesting. How many credit cards have you given guys and paid off every month? Feels like it's only normal in certain kinds of relationships. Same with women being put up in flats by men paying the bills.

Ha, are you subtly accusing me of being a sex worker?
He would be entitled to a refund if I was 😂

DO NOT show the DWP your full bank statements!! It is ILLEGAL for them to even ask!! They are allowed to see essential Things on a bank statement such as rent, bills but ANYTHING else you black it out and redact it! NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS!!!’

So glad I work all week to subsidise messy volatile benefit claimants and their hairdresser and Klarna habits.

Sorry, but that is not true.
You are not allowed to redact anything. If you do that, you end up with delays in your review being completed. But what you spend your money on is the not what they are concerned with. It is the incomings.

Its currently looking like a regular income, so of course they’re going to question it.

Just explain it and then stop paying for things for your boyfriend.
If he wants something then he can take out his own credit card or klarna.

He’s using you and you don’t even live together.

The break ups? Yes, make that permanent.

You've got a yo-yo relationship. They don't change. Until his volatility really hurts you.

You are so wrong.
they are entitled to know every transaction and so they should.