Universal credit wanting previous 12 months income figures - grace period?

[NeedSleepNow]

I have recently applied for universal credit.

I had been making a joint tax credit claim with my husband for 10 years before this. We separated last month and he moved out, so I ended my joint tax credit claim and put in a single claim for UC. My first assessment period has now finished and they have just told me what I will be entitled to this month. On my to do list it is now asking me to confirm my previous earnings (from searching online I think this is due to them working out if the grace period applies?)

It asked me if in the 12 months prior to claiming UC I had lived with a partner so I selected yes. It then asked if we ever earnt below £500ish pounds in any month (sorry can't remember the exact figure), the answer was no so I selected that. Next it is asking for out joint income for each of the previous 12 months. I don't have any of my husband's monthly pay slips so can't answer this. I have copies of his p60s that he gave me for the tax credit end of year assessments so have his annual earnings but I don't know the exact monthly figures. He is salaried so it would usually be split equally over 12 months but during the pandemic he took a temporary paycut and was then furloughed for a while so I'm not able to work out his monthly income as this is the one year it wasn't split equally across all months. He would have earnt a lot more than the threshold they were asking about though.

We have not parted on good terms and I know he'll tell me to f**k off if I ask him for 12 months of his pay slips. So I don't know what to do.

I have put messages on my journal about other queries a few week's ago and they have gone completely unanswered, then I couldn't get through to anyone on the phone when I tried to call about it. It says I have to submit the information my 6th Sep but I just won't have the information. Any ideas what I can do or what will happen if I physically can't get hold of his monthly pay information? And what is the best way to get intouch with UC when they are not answering journal messages and their phone lines are so busy?!

I began claiming Universal Credit almost two years ago after splitting from partner. Prior to that, I was a sahm. When this question was posted on my journal, I just explained the circumstances - said that claim was due to relationship breakdown so I no longer had access to former partner 's salary details. That explanation was acceptable then, didn't go any further for me. Hope that helps a little bit!

@Pep12per

I began claiming Universal Credit almost two years ago after splitting from partner. Prior to that, I was a sahm. When this question was posted on my journal, I just explained the circumstances - said that claim was due to relationship breakdown so I no longer had access to former partner 's salary details. That explanation was acceptable then, didn't go any further for me. Hope that helps a little bit!

I was just really worried that if I couldn't answer it my payments would be stopped. That's reassuring to hear that they were happy with your explanation, thank you.

I will post an explanation on my journal and see if I get a reply from them this time!

From the Benefit Overpayment Recovery Guide

Statute of Limitations for Recovery
5.111 Other than recovery by Civil Action, for England and Wales there are no time limits for recovery of a benefit debt. While the policy is to consider abandoning some debts based on the cost effectiveness of pursuing recovery, the legal right to recover does not expire in England and Wales, and DWP retains the right to recover the debt where it is cost effective to do so.
5.112 In Scotland the debt is abandoned 20 years from the date of the last effective recovery, or 20 years from the date of the last relevant claim (such as any action by the Department to recover the debt).
5.113 A compulsory deduction or recovery from arrears of benefit is treated as a relevant claim where the recovery is not disputed by the claimant (Scotland only).

Sorry wrong thread!

UC only answer what they want on your journal. But when they want information they expect you answer right away
They are a joke, and not helpful at all they give you wrong numbers for wrong department etc
It’s not hard sat on your arse at a computer all day, they wouldn’t hack real graft it would kill em off hahaa

Just write on your journal you don’t know and leave it.. ignore it cos there still paying you, play em at their own game.. lazy f**kers

I've put a note in my journal, but not holding out much hope of getting a response!