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Original poster

Universal credit claim review

26 replies

laakhx · 08/01/2025 22:28

Hi everyone
I am currently going through the universal credit review process. I submitted my bank statements and ID & now have a telephone review to go "review evidence" and "provide further evidence"

All of my income is from universal credit, but every now and again my mum and dad have sent me small amounts to help me sometimes financially. Also, ds's father sends me bits of money when he can for his child, mostly £15-£20 here and there. In 4 months my parents have sent me around £100 in total and ds's father around £200 in 4 months

I have also sent my mum money back that I've owed her and ds father money back that I've owed him which they have probably given me in cash. It's barely anything though

I struggle a lot with managing money and don't even remember what half of my transactions were for

Would this be classed as another income. I mean, the money they have sent me does not help me towards my rent & bills etc. mostly just bits to buy for me & ds

Thank you in advance
Biscuit

OP posts:
Lovelybitofsquirrel3 · 08/01/2025 22:32

When I was asked to submit evidence when I first claimed universal credit they wanted identification and letters with my name and address on. Sorry if that isn’t what you mean. As long as the money you were gifted didn’t push you over the universal credit limit it should be ok

Teenagerantruns · 08/01/2025 22:36

It was a long time ago but when l was on benifits l checked and my parents were allowed to send me money as a gift. Your child's father should be paying mantaince anyway, l think that's disregarded for benifits?

Original poster
laakhx · 08/01/2025 22:47

@Teenagerantruns
Yes I think that's correct it's just that he doesn't send me the same amount each month as he has been struggling himself financially for quite a while now which I completely understand. So he just sends me small amounts when he can

OP posts:
Original poster
laakhx · 08/01/2025 22:49

@Lovelybitofsquirrel3 yes I had to do this too but with photo ID and bank statements. From other threads I have read, I think the phone call now is to review my bank statements and ask who people are etc

OP posts:
8dayweek · 08/01/2025 23:29

UC Reviews have been going on a year or so, and will continue to do so for likely a good few years to come. Essentially, everyone will have their UC claim reviewed at some point.

Anyway, all they will likely do is ask some questions about transactions, whether you have any other accounts and so on.

Nothing you've said is problematic - your Ex should be contributing towards their child's upkeep and Child Maintenance is disregarded. Gifts of cash etc. from Family Members is also not income that needs to be declared (unless it tips you over the Capital limits - lower limit is 6k and upper limit is 16k with increasing deductions between those two thresholds).

Miley1967 · 09/01/2025 08:38

Neither of these things are a problem. They will not be bothered about small amounts of money from family or monetary gifts. the sorts of discrepancies they are looking for are large amounts of money coming in or going out/ undeclared income/ earnings, your account going over 16k etc or 6k and you haven't informed them.

YYURYYUCICYYUR4ME · 09/01/2025 08:47

It's an audit and there were / are so many fraudulent claims they are now checking everyone or will be. You should be fine, but it would be prudent to get parent's bank statements too, to show the money is a gift, so establish a paper trail of money being paid, which will deal with any issue re. where the money came from.

iwentjasonwaterfalls · 09/01/2025 08:51

It shouldn't be a problem. Just as a note, if your child has any bank/savings accounts, you have to declare these too as they're considered "your" money. I didn't realise this and they wanted all the details of her account etc so I stuck it all in a Junior ISA for her so they couldn't count it as my income anymore.

Be prepared for stupid questions too. "On June 6th you sent £5 to someone called 'Argos', who is this?". That's Argos, the shop, babes. I spent the majority of the phone call explaining that Tesco and Argos are shops and not some dodgy people I'm sending money to.

Lou7171 · 09/01/2025 08:55

iwentjasonwaterfalls · 09/01/2025 08:51

It shouldn't be a problem. Just as a note, if your child has any bank/savings accounts, you have to declare these too as they're considered "your" money. I didn't realise this and they wanted all the details of her account etc so I stuck it all in a Junior ISA for her so they couldn't count it as my income anymore.

Be prepared for stupid questions too. "On June 6th you sent £5 to someone called 'Argos', who is this?". That's Argos, the shop, babes. I spent the majority of the phone call explaining that Tesco and Argos are shops and not some dodgy people I'm sending money to.

I don't think you need to declare a junior ISA/savings to universal credit

iwentjasonwaterfalls · 09/01/2025 09:55

Lou7171 · 09/01/2025 08:55

I don't think you need to declare a junior ISA/savings to universal credit

Show quote history

Junior ISA doesn't, any other child savings account they want. They wanted my daughter's building society account and said it counted as my money.

C0l3tt · 31/01/2025 14:38

@laakhx Hi there was everything okay in the end? I’ve just had a message after providing bank statements to say I’ve got a phone call next week to provide further evidence and my anxiety can’t take the worry!

Original poster
laakhx · 01/02/2025 01:16

@C0l3tt honestly don't worry! Everything was absolutely fine don't stress yourself over it x

OP posts:
C0l3tt · 04/02/2025 11:03

@laakhx Thanks for getting back to me! I had my phone call this morning and was quite literally on the phone for 4 minutes. He asked who a person was that sent me money each month, it’s my partner who is the other claimant of our joint claim who sends me money for my phone bill, internet etc. and then reeled off a list of other accounts all except for one I said no too. So I just need to send screenshots of my PayPal statements which will literally say £0 as I don’t use it except for a quick checkout when online shopping. Phew. Just need my partner to have his phone call later this week and then it’ll hopefully all be done and fine. Writing this out in hope it will help someone else.

ByGreyPlayer · 20/02/2025 13:17

I’ve made myself ill over having my universal credit review. I never look at my bank statements but in one month I had £4,500 going in to my account. I can’t understand how that much went in there I take out rent each month to put into separate account and i put it back in every Monday to pay my landlord weekly. I have 2 children im on LCWRA and PIP. My children’s dad sends me money for them each month and I lend money off family due to the debt I’ve racked up over the years. Will they stop in when they see this amount going in on bank statement 😫😫

BaronessEllarawrosaurus · 20/02/2025 13:23

Not quite to the same level but I transfer the bulk of my wages to my savings account then feed back as I need. I provided statements for both accounts so everything tallied up. They were absolutely fine with it.

PennyDreadful234 · 20/02/2025 13:28

ByGreyPlayer · 20/02/2025 13:17

I’ve made myself ill over having my universal credit review. I never look at my bank statements but in one month I had £4,500 going in to my account. I can’t understand how that much went in there I take out rent each month to put into separate account and i put it back in every Monday to pay my landlord weekly. I have 2 children im on LCWRA and PIP. My children’s dad sends me money for them each month and I lend money off family due to the debt I’ve racked up over the years. Will they stop in when they see this amount going in on bank statement 😫😫

Edited

At £4500 you're still under the threshold. Just be honest with them over the phone, explain where the amounts are coming from, provide all bank statements (including savings accounts) and it will all be fine, honestly.

ByGreyPlayer · 20/02/2025 13:29

BaronessEllarawrosaurus · 20/02/2025 13:23

Not quite to the same level but I transfer the bulk of my wages to my savings account then feed back as I need. I provided statements for both accounts so everything tallied up. They were absolutely fine with it.

I’ve sent my rent account statements and my bank statements I’m panicking even though I’m not doing anything illegal my anxiety is through the roof especially because I have 2 children and the panic of my money being stopped

DragonFly98 · 20/02/2025 14:05

iwentjasonwaterfalls · 09/01/2025 08:51

It shouldn't be a problem. Just as a note, if your child has any bank/savings accounts, you have to declare these too as they're considered "your" money. I didn't realise this and they wanted all the details of her account etc so I stuck it all in a Junior ISA for her so they couldn't count it as my income anymore.

Be prepared for stupid questions too. "On June 6th you sent £5 to someone called 'Argos', who is this?". That's Argos, the shop, babes. I spent the majority of the phone call explaining that Tesco and Argos are shops and not some dodgy people I'm sending money to.

That’s not true children’s accounts are not your income as you are not the beneficiary owner regardless of whether it’s an ISA or not.

HaddyAbrams · 20/02/2025 14:16

iwentjasonwaterfalls · 09/01/2025 08:51

It shouldn't be a problem. Just as a note, if your child has any bank/savings accounts, you have to declare these too as they're considered "your" money. I didn't realise this and they wanted all the details of her account etc so I stuck it all in a Junior ISA for her so they couldn't count it as my income anymore.

Be prepared for stupid questions too. "On June 6th you sent £5 to someone called 'Argos', who is this?". That's Argos, the shop, babes. I spent the majority of the phone call explaining that Tesco and Argos are shops and not some dodgy people I'm sending money to.

Definitely agree on the stupid questions. During my review I was asked
"Is your rent £x per month?" "Is your landlord Mr Smith?"
Answered yes to both.

Next question
"On the 31st Jan you sent £x to Mr Smith, can you tell me what that was for please?"
Ermmmmmm.

crazymamma000 · 28/03/2025 23:38

how did they even know your daughter had a junior ida account ?

crazymamma000 · 28/03/2025 23:40

how did they know you even had other accounts

Mummabadger · 31/03/2025 16:34

Universal credit review.

In a bit of a situation. Me and my young family had to move out back in November due to repairs leaks etc… it wasn’t a planned thing. I rent privately. The landlord agreed to a rent free period, I receive housing benefit but as I’m on uc I receive the housing element to help towards rent. So back in November I had to quickly find somewhere I just wanted to make sure we had a roof over our heads, My dad passed away in this time also so my family was going through so much. I was still paying bills even council tax while I wasn’t there as the tenancy was left open to return when it was safe to do so. I started using the housing element money to pay for my temporary accommodation but I failed to inform them of this back in November and now I’m concerned I’m going to be in trouble. I still used the money for rent they just didn’t know that I had moved out. It was only supposed to be until January but it got delayed and now I have had confirmation that we are going home this Saturday the 5th!! Does anyone know what will
happen to me once I inform them ? I’m very scared. I feel stupid now that I didn’t inform them but it was only temporary. Any advice would be great!!

Thankyou

crazymamma000 · 31/03/2025 20:11

think everybody’s done something they shouldent do and everybody’s so scared with all this universal credit review , seems we have to live under there laws under there rules and it’s so rubbish for people who can’t work that we have to live like this :( scared of going through my review too because there so strict with everything and can just put an end to all your money take you off uc and leave you basically on the streets with your children they do not care

cara1234 · 23/06/2025 11:58

Hi how did it go? I’m in the same situation as you and can’t help but worry. I have mine on Thursday

disneymummy44 · 24/07/2025 22:21

ByGreyPlayer · 20/02/2025 13:17

I’ve made myself ill over having my universal credit review. I never look at my bank statements but in one month I had £4,500 going in to my account. I can’t understand how that much went in there I take out rent each month to put into separate account and i put it back in every Monday to pay my landlord weekly. I have 2 children im on LCWRA and PIP. My children’s dad sends me money for them each month and I lend money off family due to the debt I’ve racked up over the years. Will they stop in when they see this amount going in on bank statement 😫😫

Edited

How did your review go if you don’t mind me asking. I’m in a similar situation to you and I’m so scared about getting a review because I transfer all
my money out and then back in as needed and I borrow from family and my children’s dad pays money each month so it looks like i
have a lot going into my bank but it’s literally just where I transfer it out and back in. I have ocd so I’m constantly worried at the thought of these reviews