I've been on UC for 3 years. I'm a single parent and I work. I've just received some inheritance so immediately used my online UC journal to inform them of my change of circumstances. I have now been told to come in to the job centre and bring 3 months of bank statements.
I've had a hell of a year and have not always been "on it." I recalled that my mother had sent money at the end of May because she has also inherited and has surplus. It was a large enough sum to push me over the £16k threshold. I absolutely should have told UC then but I didn't. This was partly because I knew a big chunk would be for paying off my credit card (which I still have not done as it in interest-free period) and another chunk was for booking a holiday (we haven't been able to afford one for years). The rest was to give to my children who do not yet have their own bank accounts.
On receipt of the money in May I immediately applied to open accounts for the children but have yet to sit down and log on the internet banking and transfer their money. The upshot is that I was over the £16k limit for about 6 weeks or 1 UC payment.
I'm now really really worried that I will end up with a criminal record for this and lose my job. What will they do? I've told them what happened now re not declaring the money received in May as most was for the children. I've kist been told I must wait for this meeting in 2 weeks to verify my capital.
To avoid drip-feeding, I've now scouted my bank statements for the last few years and they was a 10 day period last year when I went over the £16k as my father transferred some money to me temporarily. I'm really worried.