UC enhanced review team

[sophlouise1992]

Hello,  
This is the Enhanced Review Team contacting you about your claim to Universal Credit. We believe you are not entitled to receive Universal Credit because we have doubts about the legitimacy of your claim. Accordingly, we have suspended payment of your Universal Credit. To resolve this doubt on your claim to Universal Credit please contact 0800 328 5644 and ask to speak to the Enhanced Review Team. If we do not hear from you by 24/11/2023, your claim will be closed.  
Thank you


has anyone had this and know how long it takes or what it’s about? Had today and I’m concerned how I’m going to pay rent/feed children

[Specialist1]

Hi
I have received exactly the same message , reading other forums looks like they would request more documents . Did they called you ? They said on two working days they will contact .

[LeahB1997]

My daughter had this yesterday she got a phone call today. She’s had to upload pictures of the door and house number a passport photos of her and her son an doctors a bank statements and tenancy agreement a few other bits.

[sophlouise1992]

Thankyou! It’s so worrying when you no you live by the book then see a message like that! I’ve still not had my phone call, hopefully it happens tomorrow. Did you daughter get given an timescales. I’m worried how I’m going to pay next months rent and childcare cost if it’s not sorted in time 😫

[rockingbird]

Call them and make sure its legit before you send any documents.. sounds odd!

[Reedy281147]

Has anyone else had this sorted as I've just had exactly the same message and I'm at my wits end?

[sophlouise1992]

Yes try not to worry to much it’s just a general review they are doing. I got the message on Tuesday, had the phone call Thursday. All sorted and payments back up and running today

[Reedy281147]

Thank you, I'm hoping that will help to ease my mind.

[funbags3]

Apparently, a lot of claims are having to prove who they say they are.

[Reedy281147]

The wording of the message is really bad and set in a way that will make people worry that they aren't entitled and that money is going to stop.

[Snugglewuggle25]

Email?? Shouldn't something like this go on your UC journal?? I'm not sure as I've not moved over to UC yet but just a thought. Be careful it's not a scam.

[Sk8erboi]

I'd make a complaint to the service and probably escalate to the MP over the wording of this if I received it.
It sounds like those of you who have had it, have sorted it quickly by providing documents proving the wording is wrong.

The "we have doubts about the legitimacy of your claim/believe you're not entitled" is worded appallingly and is effectively an accusation. It would create panic and fear in anyone who receives it.

On tax credits I had similar but it was called a compliance review, I didn't panic at all as it sounded like a standard review.

[Reedy281147]

Yeah, I received an email telling me to check my portal is what I meant.

[Reedy281147]

Exactly what I was thinking. We have provided all our documents when we claimed 2 years ago, both work and have two young children and getting a message like this just installs worry in people who genuinely watch every single penny. We'd have been better working cash in hand and claiming benefits like some people but all we have been is absolutely honest and it's disgusting that the messages are worded like this.

[sophlouise1992]

The wording of the message is terrible! Even the one after the phone call is bad. The man I spoke to even said himself the automated message I’m going to put in your journal will sound harsh but don’t worry it’s just standard procedure. I was sick with worry for days it’s not fair to our people though this. But I can confirm that for me it was sorted within a few days and payments reinstated. Although they did ask me for all sorts of silly things:
photo outside my front door
photo inside my house showing the street
tenancy agreement (which they had 3 years ago)
deposit protection letter
child’s birth cert
a letter from my child’s school
an official letter addressed to myself
council tax bill
photos of me holding my passport
photos of me holding my sons passport.

the guy was nice enough and agreed it could be worded better. I suppose he had a job to do.

there was that many fraudulent claims made during covid that they are just checking everyone randomly.

but take it from someone who literally didn’t sleep or eat with worry it’s not that bad and was sorted within 3 days.

hope everyone else gets sorted

[Mamdi]

I’ve had the same message, I too am at my wits end so worrying

[Dana81]

Just received the same message in my journal , will call them in the morning . The message its defo not ok , got me really worried until I read this thread and I hope everything will be ok for everyone

[scrantonelectriccity]

They're doing random reviews of over 2 million claims atm

[Boomboom22]

It is necessary though, every rental i ever lived in had letters claiming for multiple names that never lived there. Never did anything I could tell when reported and seems like proof is accepted.

[SocialLite]

We've had similar, have to prove ID and bank statements.

What really upset me though is that the notification has come through under the name of Santa! We were really stressed as to whether it was genuine or our account had been hacked.

[Reedy281147]

Had my phone call last night and apparently it's being rolled out across the country. The bloke on the phone seemed OK and also stated that he didn't like the wording in the message but that their hands are tied. Call lasted about 30 minutes and then they send a list of documents (birth certificates, tenancy agreements, etc) that you have to upload along with pictures of you outside and in your home.
Hopefully it doesn't take long to sort for you.

[Amandaaaa]

I got the same message the risk review team are contacting me in 2-3 days I’m at my wits end the message is awful they put on

[Reedy281147]

All I can do is say the same as everyone has and please try not to worry. If you've done nothing wrong then it's nothing more than a ballache.

[Mawface]

Can I ask, when did Yous make your claims? Was it during lockdown or before?

[Dana81]

@Mawface

Can I ask, when did Yous make your claims? Was it during lockdown or before?

6 months ago so I`m in shock really

[sophlouise1992]

2019 I made my claim. It’s just random checks on everyone I think regardless of when your started your claim