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Original poster

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

273 replies

Sunshine225 · 14/10/2025 06:45

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?

OP posts:
Roundlucy · 14/10/2025 07:08

Sunshine225 · 14/10/2025 07:04

I will absolutely repay and I will notify them. I noticed it before they have.

Show quote history

So you didn’t spend the money?

It wouldn’t just have been housing benefit

You were no longer a single adult resident. So you would have received other benefits too

cholesterol · 14/10/2025 07:10

Sunshine225 · 14/10/2025 07:08

Baby is 5 months old. I was so poorly with it and they already know due to the sick notes I had to give when I was pregnanct. I have been suffering with ppd since she has been born aswell.

Show quote history

Ok so really you are very newly postpartum too and with the lasting effects of HG (I had ptsd from it it was that bad so I understand) and now ppd the first thing you need to do is report this then speak to the gp as they will be able to write a letter explaining the circumstances. I think any reasonable person at UC will see that you have had an incredibly difficult time and will arrange a repayment plan. Please don’t be too hard on yourself .

Roundlucy · 14/10/2025 07:11

The baby is 5 months now?

you moved out in Jan. 10 months ago.

So you moved in with the father. Did you spend the money?

GAJLY · 14/10/2025 07:14

Just update your details on the journal ASAP. Say you've moved address and see what they say. If they say you've been overpaid and send you a repayment bill, ring them up. That's what I did and explained I couldn't afford to repay the whole amount, they let me choose how much to repay each week. I offered £5 per week and they accepted.

Allisgoodtoday · 14/10/2025 07:16

I would say, don't worry. You clearly have a lot on your plate but now you've noticed the overpayments.
Explain it to UC, the fact that you're bringing it to their attention shows you aren't trying to defraud them and are wanting to pay the extra back.
Look at your finances and work out what you can pay per month and ask them for a repayment arrangement. If you don't they'll demand the lot immediately or set their own repayment amounts which may be too high. But if you discuss it with them with evidence of what you can pay they can sort it out for you.

latishia6 · 14/10/2025 07:18

You can pay it back in tiny increments. UC are pretty unlikely to let you off this kind of thing. I forgot to tell them I had moved house. I moved to a different rental, same amount of rent, but forgot to tell them for two months. Did a change of circumstances form and apologised on my journal and they still made me pay back the money even though I was eligible.

TheBeaTgoeson1 · 14/10/2025 07:19

So you were getting housing benefit paid to you.

You moved out of the house but continued to receive the same ammount in benefits.

You didn’t tell them anything.

You thought you were still receiving what you were entitled to.

How much was the housing benefit element?

NotEnoughKnittingTime · 14/10/2025 07:21

Have you updated it to a joint claim after you moved in? His wage could mean you aren't entitled to any UC anymore.

Catsknowbest · 14/10/2025 07:23

GAJLY · 14/10/2025 07:14

Just update your details on the journal ASAP. Say you've moved address and see what they say. If they say you've been overpaid and send you a repayment bill, ring them up. That's what I did and explained I couldn't afford to repay the whole amount, they let me choose how much to repay each week. I offered £5 per week and they accepted.

With the amount of time that's passed I wouldn't advise just doing a change of circumstances and 'wait and see.' I'd address it more robustly than that. The overpayment exists, regardless of how low an amount they'll agree as repayments, I definitely wouldn't deal with it that way.

toomanyhobbies · 14/10/2025 07:23

If you have moved in with the father of the child are you partners? As you need to declare that and possibly make a joint claim Has he amended and benefits he is getting, informed Council tax that his single person discount needs to end.

Mondaytuesdayhappydays · 14/10/2025 07:26

When I worked in housing 2019 the minimum anyone could agree to be pay back on a HB element overpayment was £11.66 a week so just under 50 quid a month.
So I would imagine now it’s a few quid more a week but manageable.
biggest overpayment I ever saw was 66k ( a family were subletting their council property and living overseas in family home) they were neither done for fraud nor did it effect their credit rating so long as made that weekly payment (was taken straight from their benefits before paid anyway )
so you will be fine xx
but no- neither ignorance nor illness will make an exception to any money your not entitled to -thank god as the abuses I saw as it stood were falling enough as it was !

Upsetbetty · 14/10/2025 07:26

Sunshine225 · 14/10/2025 06:45

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?

Why did you move in the first place?

Lennonjingles · 14/10/2025 07:31

Your reasons for not noticing or doing anything about it are reasonable and months go by really quick when you have a small baby to care for whilst suffering as you have. But the good news is that you are now in a position to sort it out and obviously the quicker you do it, the better. Ask for a repayment plan if you haven’t got the money to pay it back in full and as previous posters have said, your living arrangements with partner also needs to be noted.

MNNnnn · 14/10/2025 07:33

How much of the money do you still have that you can pay back immediately?

The fact you have noticed and will call them is going to look a lot better than if they had to call you. People make mistakes op, try and stay as calm as you can, you can deal with this. Learn from it too though, check your accounts regularly from now on. Good luck.

Rooroobear · 14/10/2025 07:33

Didn’t you ever have to log in to accept your commitments. I have to do it every 3 months or so. When I was working part time I had to do it every month and then when I went full time it changed to every few months so surely you knew to some degree? Like a pp said I’m sure if it was an under payment you’d have known

notthatoldchestnut · 14/10/2025 07:36

Op if you weren’t entitled to maternity leave you can claim maternity allowance. Have you claimed that?

Greysowhat · 14/10/2025 07:36

Get a letter confirming you were not well and talk to the housing people. They will probably get you to pay it back a little each month. I know of someone who does this and it's £50 a month taken directly from his pension. They don't tend to prosecute genuine mistakes as far as I'm aware.

ComfortFoodCafe · 14/10/2025 07:37

How is that even possible? You should of moved onto a joint claim and they would of asked to verify all the details…. You did change it to a joint claim didnt you??

Soontobe60 · 14/10/2025 07:38

Sunshine225 · 14/10/2025 07:04

I will absolutely repay and I will notify them. I noticed it before they have.

Show quote history

They’ve not noticed it as an overpayment because you’ve not told them you moved 9 months ago!
I assume you’ve still been logging into your account and agreeing to your claimant commitment? The bit where you agree to tell them of any changes of circumstances? I’m guessing it’s more than just housing benefit fraud you'll be investigated for if you’ve moved in with the father of your baby’s father - ie your boyfriend. Unfortunately you’ve got yourself into a bit of a pickle here that needs sorting out asap. Yes you’ll have to pay back all the overpayment and you may be prosecuted for fraud. I suggest you get written evidence from your NHS record of all your issues during and post pregnancy as proof of your illness, and speak to Citizen’s Advice asap who will be able to signpost you to appropriate legal advice.
Out of interest, you say you had to move because you had nowhere else to go - but you DID have somewhere to go, you already had your own place to live. Why did you move out? That’s one of the things you’ll be asked.

Soontobe60 · 14/10/2025 07:39

GAJLY · 14/10/2025 07:14

Just update your details on the journal ASAP. Say you've moved address and see what they say. If they say you've been overpaid and send you a repayment bill, ring them up. That's what I did and explained I couldn't afford to repay the whole amount, they let me choose how much to repay each week. I offered £5 per week and they accepted.

She moved out 10 months ago, she can’t pretend that she moved out this week!

ComfortFoodCafe · 14/10/2025 07:40

GAJLY · 14/10/2025 07:14

Just update your details on the journal ASAP. Say you've moved address and see what they say. If they say you've been overpaid and send you a repayment bill, ring them up. That's what I did and explained I couldn't afford to repay the whole amount, they let me choose how much to repay each week. I offered £5 per week and they accepted.

Thats fraud, she cant do that. 🤦🏻‍♀️

GAJLY · 14/10/2025 07:43

Soontobe60 · 14/10/2025 07:39

She moved out 10 months ago, she can’t pretend that she moved out this week!

Show quote history

I didn't say she should tell them she's moved this week?! I said update her journal. This will trigger a form being sent out, asking questions e.g. when did you move then they'll send her a bill. What's so hard about that?! She has to tell them sometime! The journal is the only way to update details now.

clarrylove · 14/10/2025 07:44

Did you manage to claim child benefit? That might wreaken your case if you were too ill to notify them of the change but well enough to put in a new claim.

Soontobe60 · 14/10/2025 07:45

GAJLY · 14/10/2025 07:43

I didn't say she should tell them she's moved this week?! I said update her journal. This will trigger a form being sent out, asking questions e.g. when did you move then they'll send her a bill. What's so hard about that?! She has to tell them sometime! The journal is the only way to update details now.

Edited
Show quote history

Apologies - your post sounded like you were advising her to say she’s only just moved.

Motheranddaughter · 14/10/2025 07:45

Presumably if you didn’t know you were getting it then you haven’t spent it so you can pay it all back immediately?