Universal credit debt

[Zaza6375]

Hi all,
Ive today received a bill from UC for £40,000!
I received UC from Feb 2020 until Feb 2023 when I separated from my husband.
I sold the family house and bought a smaller home for the kids and myself. I had money left over so I went into the UC offices to state that I now had savings and cancelled my UC payments..which they did.
They are now saying I have to pay bank the amount that was given.
Has anyone else experienced this? My youngest is disabled so the money that I have left over is to convert the house so she can have a bedroom.
Im a single parent on very low income and only receive DLA.
I have phoned them and they are calling me back on Monday as the person I spoke to was 'unsure' 🤯
im scare out of my mind as there is no way I can repay this.
Many thanks

I think this is what you will have to do OP.

A colleague of mine got a matrimonial home interest disregarded for over 2 years because there was all sorts of legal wranglings over it. The client had to go to court to get an order for it to be sold, as her estranged husband wouldn't agree to sell.

I think the client had a non-mol in place though, which evidenced why she couldn't remain in the matrimonial home.

Yea this is exactly what UC require to allow a "disregard" for the share of the equity in a property. Simply moving out and informally arguing with ex to sell wont wash with UC

The value of the equity is reduced by 10% to allow for selling costs. Then its split between the owners as to their legal "share"

If that equity share is over £16,000 and no disregard is allowed ( 6 months to sell or longer if courts involved ) UC credit is not payable. Its a big reason for the UC claimant never to leave the matrimonial home if its full of equity.