UC error making me sick with worry!

[Stressssssed]

I dont know if anyone can help. I've claimed UC for past 12 months and had a review today, it turns out I haven't listed my eldest son as a non-dependant ! Absolutely mortified! Ive been through a terrible relationship breakdown and if I'm completely honest I started the claim and never looked at it again. My heads just been all over the place (no excuse I know) and been on autopilot trying to sort my head and life out. It was only after a review today I discovered he wasn't on there. I've rectified what I can and sent in the information I need to and intend on paying any over payment back. Just feeling so full of anxiety at the the minute worrying I'm going to jail. Cant believe I've been so stupid. Has anyone been through similar?

Hey OP. You’re human and made a human mistake. You’re trying to put it right at the earliest opportunity. You’re not going to jail. Chalk it up to experience. Be kind to yourself x

I t will only make a difference to your claim if you claim the rent element of UC and if he is over 21. If both these apply then you will have been overpaid by around £90 per month so will need to pay this back and they will likely take it back a bit at a time. It's very unlikely there would be any other action taken. In fact it would also affect the number of bedrooms they will pay you for so if he is under 21 you could have been underpaid !

My guess would be they wouldn't go to the expense of court etc for something so minor.

I don't know if it's the same but I'm dds carer and she's an adult living with me and it didn't seem to negatively affect the amount I receive. (I actually had to call to ask how to add her into my household as no option on initial form so maybe it wasn't on yours either! It was kids, partners and lodgers as far as I can remember!

I think if the non dependent is claiming PIP then the deduction does not apply.

I'll pay back every penny. I'm so scared.

Oh, OP, please don't be frightened! The worst that will happen is that you have to pay back any overpayment. They will work out a repayment plan that you can afford. It's going to be OK.

How old is he?

They're unlikely to consider court action unless there is clear evidence you deliberately missed him off with the intention of gaining benefit.

As above if there's an overpayment it'll be about £90/month. It'll certainly be recoverable but if you offer to pay it by installments I'd expect that to be accepted.

If you get a Council Tax Reduction was he declared for that?

I've checked with council tax and he was on as a non dependant. I dont know why he wasn't on my uc claim.

Honest errors happen all the time.

Even those of us who see and think about nothing but UC in our working day can get our ducks misaligned!!