Universal credit, savings, back payments, bank checking new rules

[Roadyjoe22]

i just posting this again just to see any body else’s replies etc as still not heard back from UC

Hi, in March - April this year I received 3 separate large sum payments backdated from UC and DLA for my disabled child, I was owned this money plus back dated carers element. My claim for DLA took a long time and a few things with UC where messed up, which means i was missing out on money I was owed, anyway this all got sorted and I was back paid a payment of £9000 from UC and a psyment of around 2000 from UC also and then DLA was around 2000 backdated. I already had 3 thousand in savings which is allowed, however the backdated Payments by UC have taken me Well over the savings amount allowed? And the amount to have an ongoing claim, Nobody ever gave me any information about if this is classed as savings or when it should
be spent etc. I was originally saving it as wanted to move private rented house to a bungalow rented if one came up and buy my sons new room padding sleep safe bed etc that all cost thousands plus other adapt mentos, also first months rent deposit etc on a rented properly all add up. I also need a new sofa tv fridge etc, again, all add up, I haven’t spent any of this money since I got it in March / April, as I said been wanting to move first but no suitable rented properties have come up, However all this news about UC and banks looking into your spending and your savings etc and stopping benefits has worried me. Is the backdated money I got classed as savings even tho they owed me it ? As I said I already had some savings well under the allowed amount, but their backdated amount had taken me into no longer can claim amounts, I’ve left 2 journal message but no reply, I’m worried? I wish I just spent it when got it as I need a new sofa, new tv etc cos son breaks them all , now am worried if I buy something new that’s expensive I.e sofa, it will flag up I’m spending large amounts of money?? Can anyone rest my mind please I have adhd and I can’t sleep for worrying. I only have the savings as it was given to me by the UC themselves , but now am worried they will stop my claim of bank will flag me for spending it ??!
please help!!thank you . I have 2 children and I’m my son’s full time carer just to add.

p.s I did a precious thread just looking for further answers and experiences, a few people said it’s disregarded for 12 months as saving, so am I ok to spend this and what i need now? Even if it’s large amounts? As 12 months is up in March which isn’t that long away! Can I withdraw any to use? or will this flag with the bank? Am very confused, another lady said irs completely disregarded with no time limit. But can’t find anything online or anyone else saying this? Does anyone else know.
dows anyone else have any further info on the latest news about UC investigations and banks.

Thanks for all your replies

The dla payments are disregarded in full as they belong to your child, they are not therefore treated as your capital. Those payments are made to you in her behalf. The arrears of uc should also be disregarded for a minimum of 12 months, but should be disregarded for the whole time you remain on uc. That said, you are allowed to spend on replacing furniture ect. Keep receipts, then if they do query it you can show that it was reasonable expenditure.

Thank you so much for this information. You have put my mind at ease, it’s hard to make heads and tales of it all and it worries me all the time, I wish they would send out this information with the backpayment award letters! You receive the letter saying we owe X amount, and it will be paid to you on X date, but that’s all. Nothing about if it’s then classed as savings etc. then with this recent information about banks checking capital for UC I was so worried they’d stop my claim because of the money backdated or flag me spending the payments to UC and it be a problem! I will keep all my receipts from now on. Thank you again