Universal Credit Overpayment / Fraud

[singleedition]

Hello all,

I’m having a massive stress and could do with some advice!

In June I signed on for universal credit as I lost my job and received payments until November when I closed my claim as I received some money off family and got a part time job (which I’d declared on the earnings).

In September I began a teacher training course which I was in receipt of a small student loan for. There was a bit of confusion as I almost dropped out/changed courses because of ill health. My first appointment after registering at university was towards the end of October due to illness and hospital appointments at which point I’d brought my student Loan paperwork to show my work coach who said they didn’t need it because it was all done automatically threw the national insurance number and any deductions would be made automatically and I didn’t need to declare it on earnings as it wasn’t officially classed as a wage and if there were any deductions to be made it would show on my statement. I had put a journal message on my account saying I was switching to a university led course at the beginning of October. The automatic deductions was the case for my P45 and last pay back in June so I didn’t query it as I’ve never been on benefits before and didn’t know how it worked. Anyway I happened to mention in December to a girl from uni that I’d closed my claim and she informed me that I shouldn’t have been entitled to anything.

I realised there must have been a mistake somewhere so I rang the universal credit line straight away to explain the mistake and that I’d have been overpaid for 3 months which would total £953.46 altogether and that I was happy to pay it back. She said she would send the information onto my case worker and they’d be in touch but I haven’t heard anything. I’ve chased it up again today and apparently they are awaiting an email off someone. I feel sick with worry. Obviously I’m training to be a teacher and i need a clear DBS, I’m worried I’m going to get a letter about benefit fraud and have to go to court even though it was a compete mistake and I will happily pay all the money back that I wasn’t entitled too.

I do have a community resolution order for fraud from a few years ago when I was young and I stupidly used a credit card in my mums name during my parents very messy divorce and I was so lucky to get it sorted out than and I would never in a million years do anything wrong again.

I’m worried I could get in serious trouble and ruin my career after I’ve worked hard to turn my life around

Any advice would be super appreciated

S x

It was an innocent mistake which you have contacted them about to rectify. You have offered to pay overpayment back so it wouldnt be in their interest to take it any futher. Is fraud not classed as an intentional deception?

You’re probably right I think I’ve just worked myself up about it so much and I could kick myself for not realising sooner

I think googling horror stories of benefit fraud didn’t help either 😓

You have notified them by phone. I'd also follow it up in your online journal detailing the phone conversation (date, time and details) you and what happened. State that you are waiting to hear back from the case worker. Screenshot it.

@Lifeisabeach09
I can't add to my journal unfortunately as the claim is technically closed so its not an option on the account anymore :/ I have kept screenshots of all the phone calls etc.. I've made though and apparently these are recorded.

Thank you for the advice though :)

I would try not to worry you have been upfront with them. They are not going to be interested in spending a lot of money investing and prosecuting someone for a innocent mistake.