Page 9 | I owe UC a lot of money by recieving housing benefit I didn’t realise I was still getting

Bigpinksweater · 14/10/2025 14:34

Op, I’m usually sympathetic to minor administrative mistakes as I struggle to keep up with paperwork myself, but this is a whopper and I imagine your housing benefit was what, £800 a month? How on earth could you not notice this being paid? I get the feeling this is one of those ‘try the story out’ threads where you want to see if your version of events washes.

Picklelily99 · 14/10/2025 14:45

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?

As its now about 10x hours later, I presume you've told them now then?

Ashersmom · 14/10/2025 14:54

HRTFT but housing benefit isn't even a thing with UC. Every monthly payment of UC has a breakdown of what the payments are for. I don't think ignorance will wash with this one.

Enigma54 · 14/10/2025 15:01

Just pay what you owe. I’m sure you can work out a payment plan with them?

Every change has to be communicated, else you will get stung.

Sweetleftfood · 14/10/2025 15:19

I don't get how people say it's easy to miss.

Either TS's rent was paid directly to her landlord by DWP and then obviously if she has moved, has the landlord pocketed that money?

OR

TS get the housing benefit into her account and pays the rent to her landlord. If she has moved and stopped paying rent on that property, you can't miss that surely?

Can't imagine TS will come back to explain but the fact stands, if she informed UC that she has had another child then that's really strange isn't it, to be well enough to claim more money but not well enough to realise she's not entitled to HB

something2say · 14/10/2025 15:34

"But mental health." She's a scammer afraid of getting caught and going to try and use tricks to get out of it - the oldest story in the book.

Blondeshavemorefun · 14/10/2025 15:48

housethatbuiltme · 14/10/2025 14:16

People saying you must know - Not really.

Our UC can swing wildly from £0 to over £1000. Its based on wages so any bonuses or overtime or changes in shift pattern etc... make it fluctuate wildly.

Also housing benefit is not that much, it does not cover rent, ours was the maximum claim and only £100pw (£400pm). £100 now with cost of living is like one small cheap food shop for a family, easy to not be noticed if your not actively checking your finances.

Op is on ml

so not earning

so would have been getting 739.14 with single adult and one child

then add on rent which could be 400/1000 area depending

plus the 2nd child element of £287

so £1026 for single adult and 2 kids - plus rent on top so minimum of £1500 a month to maybe £2k a month depending on the rent

HangerLaneGyratorySystem · 14/10/2025 15:57

OP I think the best thing you can do is hide this thread because so many people have come on here with no knowledge of the system whatsoever just to gloat. Get onto a benefits advice charity for example Citizens Advice or Christians Against Poverty (don't be put off by the name those in the voluntary sector really rate them as a service) and get some help to sort things out. There's also a great Facebook group called Fightback, here's their website link:

https://www.fightback4justice.co.uk/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNHXidleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBPTWZoTlpuV0xwNmRiNHhPAR49OJEtpgtBXAY3WkdpsjNhxgbNQoGbAk3MLKCsMGec--oxG034xGR8O2I9FA_aem_yuVdMwR6oGJyaXkxtzg8ng

Get advice, not blame.

https://www.fightback4justice.co.uk/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNHXidleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBPTWZoTlpuV0xwNmRiNHhPAR49OJEtpgtBXAY3WkdpsjNhxgbNQoGbAk3MLKCsMGec--oxG034xGR8O2I9FA_aem_yuVdMwR6oGJyaXkxtzg8ng

verybighouseinthecountry · 14/10/2025 15:58

Devonmaid1844 · 14/10/2025 14:00

Another one to say I've had HG and completely understand how you could forget and not notice this, ignore those saying it's impossible, I wouldn't have had the headspace to think of anything when I was ill.

The important thing is, it's happened, you've noticed, call them and make an affordable plan.

The way DWP might see this is that she had the headspace to update her claim when the baby was born (and get more money) and to submit sick notes.

HangerLaneGyratorySystem · 14/10/2025 15:59

something2say · 14/10/2025 15:34

"But mental health." She's a scammer afraid of getting caught and going to try and use tricks to get out of it - the oldest story in the book.

Every day this site turns more and more into a forum for public flogging.

PumpkinSeasonOctober · 14/10/2025 16:03

PractisingMyTelekenipsis · 14/10/2025 10:46

Well yes. But presumably she (wrongly) assumed that's how much UC she was entitled to. Like my friend did.

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You’d have to be thick to assume so.

whowhatwerewhy · 14/10/2025 16:05

Op was your partner claiming UC as single has he updated his claim to joint ?

pinkytime · 14/10/2025 16:05

It sounds to me that your blaming being a parent and having a new baby the reason why you spent it all.

Ashersmom · 14/10/2025 16:39

Sorry, just read your posts. Can I clarify...
Did you update them you had a baby but not that you'd moved?
Did you move in with the dad of the baby (in which case a joint claim)?
Or did you move in with your partner's father? If yes, are you still trying to claim as a single parent? When did you move in respect to when DC was born? That would be the time no rent was payable. Was your old LL still being paid or did you receive the rent allowance?
There is so much you haven't explained. If you told UC nothing, that could be explained through illness. I've had Hg and severe PPD, but if you updated them with fit notes, told them the baby was born and only ways that were financially beneficial, you would be best getting in contact with CAB.

Boomer55 · 14/10/2025 16:56

Sunshine225 · 14/10/2025 06:55

It was being paid to me. But I wasn’t checking my statements so I didn’t realise, I thought I was just getting what I was entitled too, due to having a 5 month old and a 7 year old and not recieving mat pay as I didn’t qualify.@theunamedcat

You didn’t realise you were getting all this extra money? Having a baby doesn’t mitigate this.

St the very least, they will want repayment.

LakieLady · 14/10/2025 17:14

PissahNF · 14/10/2025 11:22

There is no way they will believe you didn't realise. What a con.

Recently retired welfare rights adviser here. I have dealt with several similar cases where the DWP have accepted that there was no intention on the part of the claimant to deceive and they have only imposed a low repayment rate. This is especially the case where claimants have children and/or are vulnerable themselves because of illness/disability.

My clients all had MH issues, and this sort of thing is far more common than many might think.

DoubleRainbow3 · 14/10/2025 17:53

You came on here with multiple reasons why you didn't update a change in circumstances, setting the narrative.
I'm struggling to believe your story. I presume when little one was born you had to register the birth and put your new address on the birth certificate ? which then makes it obvious you updated child benefit and gp ? I also presume you've updated your older child's school with new address and other relevant people who send you post ?
Now, if you haven't done any of these things due to illness it would make your story more believable, but if you have it looks like fraud with intent for financial gain. Your payments part of universal credit is broken down and even if you say you haven't been checking, every few months they would txt you and ask you to log in and report any changes in circumstances. I would be getting myself a solicitor if I was you.
Very naive to think you could get away with this, you prob thought to yourself, I'll do it for a wee while it's no big deal, I'll have a story all ready, coming on here today you were hoping for different replies and now you haven't came back and I'm sure your silently reading all replies. I do hope they go easy on you, you will learn a tough lesson now.

Catsknowbest · 14/10/2025 17:57

ComfortFoodCafe · 14/10/2025 07:40

Thats fraud, she cant do that. 🤦🏻‍♀️

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I advised it was a bad idea. It will go against her

Catsknowbest · 14/10/2025 17:58

patsy999 · 14/10/2025 08:30

I'm on UC and every April1st, I have to update my journal with the yearly rent increase.
So OP would have to have done this to continue getting the housing element.

Correct- if April was included in the period, for sure

Catsknowbest · 14/10/2025 18:06

Bobiverse · 14/10/2025 11:33

But you were able to update them on the birth of the child, to get money for 2 kids. Just couldn’t tell them you’d moved. Have you told them you’re no longer single so need to make a joint claim?

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I'm afraid in my experience this is where this case will be difficult and there may be additional penalties. Reporting selected changes of circumstances and not others will not look good.

Catsknowbest · 14/10/2025 18:09

LadyMary50 · 14/10/2025 11:33

This is why i always advice people to have their rent paid directly to the landlord,theirs no temptation to spend it then.Most people who are in debt with housing benefit are always the ones who have the housing benefit paid into their own bank account,Surely when you moved out you told the landlord which in turn meant you would have informed housing benefit.Wether you checked your statements or not you must have realised you were spending more money if you have now spent the housing benefit.Im sorry you are in this position but it is one of your own making,I assume the benefits office found out because the next tenant had put in a claim.

One of the ideas of UC is to give people the responsibility to pay the rent out of the total amount. Whilst APAs are available for people with specific difficulties they shouldn't be the norm.

Catsknowbest · 14/10/2025 18:11

caringcarer · 14/10/2025 13:27

I thought if you moved in with a partner you had to start a separate claim as a couple. Surely no one thinks they can just keep on claiming tax payers money for living in a property they no longer have to pay rent on. Just accept you are in the wrong and ask for a repayment plan.

Yes the claims should have been linked immediately.

Catsknowbest · 14/10/2025 18:23

RiseOfTheTeenyTinies · 14/10/2025 13:37

They can prosecute for this if they want to. I was prosecuted for benefit fraud, I was the claimant on a joint claim, in an abusive relationship. My EX wouldn't get his payslips, I couldn't get them myself obviously.

We were claiming HB based on part time hours at first, when he increased his hours I couldn't provide the evidence without the payslips, I couldn't afford to lose the whole amount by not providing proof so I just didn't tell them. Stupid but I didn't know what else to do, I continued to nag him him for them but he was so violent I was too scared to rock the boat much.

We split up and I made a single claim, I was still prosecuted for the benefit fraud, it was my name on the claim, my responsibility. I ended up 'on tag' for 6 months. I could have been sent to prison, they said it was very serious! I paid every penny back, Ex didn't have a single consequence at all.

I think it was very good of you to post this. It highlights that even in a case like yours where there was DV and element of financial control they still came down hard- harder than I would expect tbh even with experience in this in my work. Tagging does happen, prosecution does happen. Yes, sometimes a slap on the wrist and repayment agreement- but NOT always. Amount if time it went on counts; changes to other circumstances count and omission of other major changes- it will be nigh on impossible to defend that as non intentional. So respect to you for sharing it.

Catsknowbest · 14/10/2025 18:26

LakieLady · 14/10/2025 17:14

Recently retired welfare rights adviser here. I have dealt with several similar cases where the DWP have accepted that there was no intention on the part of the claimant to deceive and they have only imposed a low repayment rate. This is especially the case where claimants have children and/or are vulnerable themselves because of illness/disability.

My clients all had MH issues, and this sort of thing is far more common than many might think.

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Yes I do agree. But the worry is the other changes of circumstances that were declared, and the housing omitted.

LupaMoonhowl · 14/10/2025 18:38

FairKoala · 14/10/2025 08:19

This isn’t about ignorance it is about not being able to see that money specifically from H/B was being paid into the account.

If someone is expecting a certain amount of money and that sort of money was being paid into an account then why would you think anything was wtong

I wouldn’t worry about it. Tell them when you moved out of the property and stop the HB payment and let them come back to you

You can then set up a payment plan
at what you can afford

Dd did tell UC several times to stop paying her but they continued. Then when they stopped and worked out her over payment she negotiated £5 per month repayment. She had the overpayment money but decided to pay off her credit card with it when they said they would take £5 per month. The interest on the credit card was more than £5 per month

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Hardly something to be proud of.