Universal credit review help

[moonstarsuns]

So me and hubby joint claim. I’m not working as care for my child who disabled. Partner self employed. Recently UC asked to do a review so want bank statements etc which have been provided. My only worry is that quite often various family and friends help us out with money so it’s obviously different peoples names shown on the bank statement. Could be 100 one week or maybe 50 here and there another week. Sometimes around 200. Just depends what we need. But it’s not income it’s gifts but I’m still worried they will question it and we will be in trouble. Savings are below £1,000. Anyone here work for UC who can advise or has been through a review with circumstances to mine above

Anyone?

They will ask, it’s best to just be honest. If credits are coming in are there transactions afterwards? I.e mum gave me £50 so I went to Aldi and bought food with it or paid that D/D.

I had some credits that were questioned but they were for a specific event so they were fine.

They will ask be honest you struggle and friends and family help

Do you ever pay them back?

if you are receiving regular gifts of money. That will be considered as regular support. Declare it, or you could end up in a worse situation.
DWP can go back a long way, so no point trying to hide it.

Sometimes it’s spent sometimes it’s put into a savings account but even so that savings account is less than £1,000 which I can prove

I don’t work for UC but in benefits, we would maybe query someone who is self employed but receiving money from ‘friends’ regularly. Especially if many different names.

As long as you have under £6000 in your account then it is fine. I had my review and had money in and out from everywhere due to solicitor fees from my divorce. They just asked who people were and why I had the money. No issues.

Example "Who is x and why did she transfer you £300?" Answer "We booked a holiday". No other proof needed.

@Marble10sorry I don’t quite understand what u are saying? It’s not awfully clear can u reword it for me pls

No it won’t be. This is why questions are asked during the interview. Most people get help from family. OP as long as you’re honest and tell the agent that this amount is from your mum for shopping etc then it’s fine.

Yes, exactly this.

This is correct, it won't be questioned in a way that would impact the money you have coming it. It's more what you have in total as the balance that matters.

But it’s from a few different family members and friends not just one so is that ok?

I read it as if he is self employed then depending on what he does it may look like payments from clients

Yes, as long as you explain what you’ve put here. If you’re really worried you call leave a journal message for the UCR agent.

@KarenWheelerok so family and friends helping regularly is not an issue then?

@EvangelineTheNightStaryeavthats correct only those other payments aren’t from clients they from family and friends

No not an issue. Does your DH have a separate business account for his SE income? Have they requested self employment proof?

@KarenWheelerno it’s just one bank account and yes they requested proof of income so uploaded last tax return. The income is fine it’s just the extra money from various ppl I’m worried about. U sound confident it’ll be ok, how can u be so sure? Only asking as i could do with some reassurance from someone who genuinely knows

Does your DH have invoices so he can show what is SE income coming into your bank accounts? It will be ok. I work in UC reviews, specifically in self employment and this is very normal and something we see all the time.

You might need to prove this as several payments from different people will raise a question with him being SE. I would ask your family and friends who have given you money to check their bank statements and write a letter confirming payments they have given and the nature of your relationship.

Family is less likely to be queried than friends as ordinarily friends don’t just given regular money to each other for no reason.

They don’t care. Honestly, don’t worry about it. As long as you can explain who each person is and say it is a gift from family to help you then it’s fine. All they care about is undeclared earned income; they don’t care about gifts. You are allowed those. It’s only an issue if it takes you over £6000 in savings.

Doesn’t matter if it’s gifts in cash or into your bank account, they don’t care.

We had this the other day.

We have a bit of help from parent in law woth vehicle expenses that we dont pay back, as well as me borrowing money off my brother, which we do pay back. Also had a rare grand from my dad towards a holiday last year. She did ask about them all but they weren't a problem at all.

It was nothing to worry about!

Can I ask, why are friends giving you money? It’s very normal for family to gift money to
help out, especially if you have kids. But friends sending money over isn’t too normal. That might be something they ask about, and your friends may need to just say that it was a gift but it’s best that you’re ready to answer that question.

You are absolutely allowed to receive money as gifts, it’s not an issue. They just might query it from friends rather than family.

@Holdmybeermomentbut couldn’t my gifts from family and friends be viewed as undeclared income? Cos how would they know the difference? E.g I know it’s from friends and family but they could not believe it and see it as undeclared income

They will care though as multiple different people sending money can be seen as SE income. OP might have to evidence that is not what has happened.