UC savings

[Montea]

If I have more than 6k credit built up on my energy account does that count as savings

Yeah if you have too much money in you can have it refunded

Just like you can’t use your rent or council tax account as a ‘savings account’ either.
I worked in LA accounts and tenants try and do this all the time, then expect a big refund on the day they decide they want it back

My parents have gas/electric meters, and they load them up by a large amount just before winter. I guess that would be kind of similar to what you are saying here. But it does get used in the end.

I am crap with finances and always somehow overpay my council tax every year. I just have it taken off the next year's balance.

I had no idea people would do stuff like that on purpose to hide money.

It’s nothing like the same as it seems OP would be taking the money back at some point

I am overpaying my energy at the mo, and I will be taking it back at some point when I know what my actual usage is (am new to supplier).
Not on purpose mind.

Presumably not by more then 6 grand though

Hell no! I was quoted nearly £4k to begin with and nearly fainted. I live on my own!

Rubbish. You know it’s fraud otherwise you’d just put it in a bank account. You are trying to hide savings and defraud the system - it’s that simple.

OP has not said they have done this, or are doing this.

The mere questioning of it shows her intent.

I don't believe that they would be able to look at your energy account to tell?

I am sure a hypothetical question does not always mean intent.

This does make it seem as more than a random hypothetical.

Can you take the theoretical £6k back out of the energy credit.or could it only be used for electricity? Regardless, whilst it is not considered savings, if you had a review and they saw large payments going into your credit that seemed beyond reasonable usage then this would definitely be sent to a decision maker to decide if this is purposeful deprivation of assets. This has been happening a lot lately.

Can you purposely over pay on energy bills?
I know some people do to accrue credit for the winter, but not to the tune of thousands.

£250 is hardly anything. I had around £600 and it disappeared over the winter, I now have about £100.

I doubt UC would realise but I don't think energy companies are supposed to hang on to a lot of money so they will probably refund it to you so you'd then have a big lump sum going into your account.

It’s a very odd hypothetical question, with funnily enough, the exact amount of money which UC would then start deducting your entitlement from.

Well, call up DWP and report OP then.

That’s an even more weird response than the OP’s question 😵‍💫😵‍💫
Firstly, it’s not up to me at all to report anyone. Secondly, they’re anonymous. Thirdly, I have far more valuable things to be doing with my time. The list goes on … 🥱🥱

If the person had a review and the money was being paid into the energy account via electronic means (rather than cash) then they would definitely notice. In a review every single transaction will be looked at. Many people don't realize that the move over from tax credits to UC has meant a huge increase in the monitoring/surveillance process.