I owe UC a lot of money by recieving housing benefit I didn’t realise I was still getting

[Sunshine225]

So i was so poorly during my pregnancy with Hyperemisis. Then when I had my daughter I had a c section and have been struggling with my mental health due to illness during pregnancy and then continuing to have PPD. I didn’t realise I hadn’t changed my address (moved out January this year) and have been getting housing benefit for my old rented property. I have moved in with the father of my child’s dad as I had nowhere else to go and now I’m scared I’m going to get prosecuted for fraud. I have found this overpayment out and going to inform them and give them all the evidence to prove I didn’t realise and I’m so worried about the outcome. Has this happened to anyone else?

Will she though…

There are minimum work requirements on UC depending on ages of children, partners hours if in a couple and other factors. I kind of get the feeling you wouldn't be happy unless we all whizzed back to "the good old days" Which weren't so great.

Go and look at the societies which provide subsidised childcare/childcare payments and look at the societies which do not. Look at happiness levels, economic output, quality of life, outcomes for children and young people. And then come back and tell me that you want to live in one of the countries which provides nothing.

If baby is 5 months old, I assume you're claiming CB and UC, and will have had to update your claim - you had already moved by the time you claimed for new baby. This looks very much like a deliberate overclaim. What has suddenly made you "realise" you've overclaimed, are you due a review?

So you don't think those on minimum wage should have kids then?

Because without the nursery fees paid for you on minimum wage you would have no way to pay for food for you or the child.

Just trying to figure out what people want when they put stuff like this.

Do you think we should be forcibly sterilised, or should our children be removed and given to wealthy families?

Just interested in how it plays out in your head.

So you think it’s ok to decide to have children knowing you cannot feed them yourself?…I’m interested in how THAT plays out in your head?

I think you are just here trying to bait people. None of your comments so far have contributed anything meaningful, or particularly intelligent; they are all just rather low grade , generalising and passive aggressive criticisms, really.

I wouldn't bother too much- its obvious from that poster's comments why they are here. And it isn't to contribute anything particularly worthwhile.

I don’t think anyone needs any intelligence to pass comment on someone claiming to not have known that they were over claiming benefits to be honest. The OP was wrong not to notify of her situation change.

As for having children you can’t afford…well it’s not rocket science is it?

I've personally covered the notification changes being wrong earlier in this post, and the likely consequences; by profession I deal with welfare benefits every day and have done for almost 13 years. I am calling you out on the fact that every single one of your comments are generalised and, frankly, just make you look like you are here to have a go at other posters who for whatever reasons balance their work/childcare/UC entitlements around their circumstances. There are always - ALWAYS - going to be people who don't play by the rules or take advantage of a situation, but your attitude is to include ALL parents in your generalisation. That is what shows a lack of intelligence.

I think A LOT of people need to start taking more responsibility for their decisions in life these days to be honest. I think having children and then sitting there all righteous and exclaiming that the government has a responsibility to help you out is a bit galling to be honest…

Where on here has that been said? I haven't seen that. And in my experience that is not the majority, whatever you might like to think. And the group you are talking about, your benchmark to label all parents? Guess what? That group has existed for way, way longer than the advent of means tested benefits- ducking and diving didn't just start in the last 40 years. You'd be better off wringing your hands over the unbelievable amount of money wasted elsewhere propping up expenses greedy politicians, unnecessary mayors all over the place with their costly offices and encourages, than you would over this.

i can wring my hands over both essentially… all I’m saying is people need to take more personal responsibility. It’s not a new concept. Anyway, it’s not worth arguing over I suppose…

did you report to UC that you had another child? you usually have to upload some supporting documents as registration in my area is delayed. this might reduce your overpayments a little bit but you'll still have to pay some of it back. I'd make the changes on your portal and write a note. They'll contact you for further details, i wouldn't worry too much, just that it'll be a big drop in income.

Let's get onto that once you've talked about the progression of not allowing minimum wage workers to have children.

Let's get onto that once you've talked about the progression of not allowing minimum wage workers to have children.

I think

It's a really interesting subject because I think it would crash the economy if us povvos couldn't have kids.

@Upsetbetty there was a lady in my baby group just now who will utilise the 30 free hours for her child after her mat leave.

Without that 30 free hours she wouldn't be able to feed her child either. There are 2 differences between me and her:

1. I cost the taxpayer less than her
2. I'm working a bit less than her. I do about 10 fewer hours a week from home

But I think you'd only say to me 'how can you have kids when you can't afford to feed them?'

But full-time working parents can't either without the funded nursery hours.

I don’t think @Sunshine225 is going to come back

No doubt OP will have to pay back what she owes, which is right.

Mumsnet is inundated with these threads. Aside from child benefit, I am perplexed why so many women seem.to expect benefits as if it is a right. Why, what happened to cutting your cloth mantra?

it is deeply troubling that in 2025 people seem to have no concept of financial planning. Maybe schools need to reiterate the this message and those who make ridiculous life choices shoukd be punished financially to ensure they get back on the straight and narrow.

My children, my nephew and my nieces, have all stopped at one child. They would love to have had more and I would have loved to be surrounded by little children at Christmas. They've all stopped at one because they know that they can't afford any more (despite any financial help they may or may not be getting). And yet....we need more adults to pay into the system. I don't know what the answer is but one-child families isn't it 😟

You won't be prosecuted for fraud. No criminal, notifies who they have defrauded and offers to pay it back. Fraud is premeditated. Just get in touch with them and explain the circumstances I don't even think there will be a penalty.

Hard to financially punish people who have no money. Maybe they could sell their teeth and hair like Cosette.

I imagine this has all ended rather badly for @Sunshine225