Page 16 | UC want all my money back…

MapleHazelLatte · 2025-09-19T07:11:54+00:00

I applied for UC when I separated from DC’s father 3 years ago. I have since been living with my parents and he stayed in the house we bought together. I’ve been asking him to take my name of the mortgage to give me my share but he just has been dragging his heels about it. I applied for UC when we split up. i then got a notification to say I was having a review phone call. Apparently someone had accused me of still being with DC’s father. I had to send all my bank statements for the last 3 years and fill out forms regarding the house. Originally I vaguely remember they did say they would disregard the house for 6 months then I heard no more. a couple of months later I was told I had been overpaid but it was only slightly and a manageable amount to pay back. I’ve not got another letter saying I shouldn’t have got UC since 2022 and they want ALL the money back other than the first 6 months. It’s “disallowed” I’ve worked this out to be around £30k. I have no idea what I’m going to do. Anyone else been in this situation ??

Sultryjazznights · 19/09/2025 18:38

OP , as your parents housed you, did they not enquire what was happening re your home?

Orangeoranges42 · 19/09/2025 18:42

Do you have a yearly review? Often around April time you confirm your details.

if you think you’ve told them since your original claim you can do a subject access request for a copy of the document you have provided them about yourself to prove you told them again after the original six month. If you told them once and expected them to remember- they won’t they just process things and I’m sorry but your a number to them.

How long did you have the mortgage for? Might be worth visiting cab for advice on the house. Have a look at the price of others similar in the area might give you an idea how much worth and contact the bank to see how much if left on the mortgage.

Kelly1969 · 19/09/2025 18:42

Swandry · 19/09/2025 12:56

This is why people need legal advice when they split up, especially when there are joint assets. And also why you should get married. Because it gives you protections and there’s a legal process to go through to get a divorce and everyone’s needs are taken into account.

I am so sorry you’re in this situation @MapleHazelLatte

Edited

How would getting married make things simpler?
I am in similar but opposite situation to op, split 9 years and I stayed in house paying mortgage alone.
Ex wants crazy amount of equity to come off mortgage that I paid deposit for, always worked and contributed and now paid 9 years on my own.
as a carer I work around my disabled daughter.
UC has virtually stopped now, and what my daughter is able to claim is a pittance compared to what I’ve lost.

AmIHumanOrAmIAYeti · 19/09/2025 18:42

It’s pretty obvious, surely, that if you’re on a joint mortgage the other party can’t just call up and have you taken off. He would have to pass affordability checks and you’d have to formally confirm you wanted out with the mortgage company. If he fails the checks, you are stuck and would have to get a court order for it to be sold and the equity split between you 50/50.

how did you think this would play out? You claim UC for 20 years, house doubles in value and you cash in?

You’re responsible for your own financial wellbeing. Ignorance can’t be an excuse. You have all the info you need in your hand.

ASongOfRiceAndPeas · 19/09/2025 18:46

Contact Universal Credit and Legacy Benefit Advice group on Facebook, they are expert advisors regarding UC. Make sure it’s the group with that exact name as there are other copycat ones.

Roobarbtwo · 19/09/2025 18:48

Sultryjazznights · 19/09/2025 18:38

OP , as your parents housed you, did they not enquire what was happening re your home?

That's not your business.

Middlechild3 · 19/09/2025 18:58

MapleHazelLatte · 19/09/2025 08:21

My ex won’t sell the house, I’ve asked him before. He said if he buys me out I’d be entitled he worked out to about £16k-£20k so it wouldn’t cover it all. I’m terrified bailiffs are going to turn up at my parents house cos of me. They had asked in my journal a few times if I had got any money out of the house and I’d always said no as my ex still lived there so I thought as I’d been upfront about my name still being on it that it would be ok.

You don't ask your ex, you apply the law firmly to sell the house whatever it takes.

Rosscameasdoody · 19/09/2025 19:13

ComfortFoodCafe · 19/09/2025 08:27

Yes but you live in your house, the rules are different if you own a house and dont live in it.

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No she doesn’t. She lives with her parents.

Sultryjazznights · 19/09/2025 19:17

OP this is a forum offering opinion only which has no say in the outcome.

Take legal advice and contact DWP for the facts.

Kelly1969 · 19/09/2025 19:24

CoralOP · 19/09/2025 15:16

But she should of been paying half the morgage since she left too 🤷‍♀️

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Yeah def, she’s not due rent when she’s not paid towards the mortgage

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 19/09/2025 19:26

Who has been paying the mortgage? If it's him, he will likely want more than half the equity. Not fair that DWP didn't tell you this when paying the money. Its just not right. Though I do agree, if you've equity in the house, you can't have UC.
Could you move back in in the interim so you are eligible?

Catpuss66 · 19/09/2025 19:33

MapleHazelLatte · 19/09/2025 08:21

My ex won’t sell the house, I’ve asked him before. He said if he buys me out I’d be entitled he worked out to about £16k-£20k so it wouldn’t cover it all. I’m terrified bailiffs are going to turn up at my parents house cos of me. They had asked in my journal a few times if I had got any money out of the house and I’d always said no as my ex still lived there so I thought as I’d been upfront about my name still being on it that it would be ok.

The main word that popped out to me was ‘ he worked out’ you need independent financial & divorce advice. Do not rely on your ex partner not to rip you off. Sure there are divorce threads that will guide you.

Kelly1969 · 19/09/2025 19:35

SirHumphreyRocks · 19/09/2025 14:07

Albeit with agreement, this happened to my friend. She split up with her husband (so she was fortunately married) and although it was her who stayed in the house, he didn't pay towards the mortgage because he couldn't afford it (he did pay maintenance etc though). But since she covered the full mortgage when it comes to a sale (or the end of the mortgage) what he hasn't paid is totted up and deducted from his share of the value. It was all agreed legally, but I guess the same would apply here. So if she isn't paying on the mortgage then the value of her share may be falling every month anyway. That is quite independant of any maintenance.

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That’s the situation I’m in, 9 years split and I’ve paid the full mortgage the whole time.
Problem is they don’t count how much I’ve paid, they look at how much is left to pay on the mortgage compared to 9 years ago-that’s what a mediator told me anyway.
Which means they’re not accounting for interest!

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 19/09/2025 19:36

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 19/09/2025 19:26

Who has been paying the mortgage? If it's him, he will likely want more than half the equity. Not fair that DWP didn't tell you this when paying the money. Its just not right. Though I do agree, if you've equity in the house, you can't have UC.
Could you move back in in the interim so you are eligible?

Whether he wants more than half the equity is neither here nor there. What matters is whether he is entitled to it.

He's been paying the mortgage for the last three years because he's had sole occupation of the house. Why the hell should the OP be paying towards a house she can't even live in? If she were to continue to pay her half of the mortgage he'd owe her rent for that half.

Thisismynewname23 · 19/09/2025 19:36

They might allow you time to pay my friend had a large over payment over a couple of years even though her wage Information was all given and it was their error in that case but they gave her a tiny payment each month of £50 I’m sure hers was around £9000 they were really helpful over it

Roobarbtwo · 19/09/2025 19:39

Kelly1969 · 19/09/2025 19:24

Yeah def, she’s not due rent when she’s not paid towards the mortgage

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That's not true legally. A quick Google search will tell you otherwise

Jesuisatot · 19/09/2025 19:44

Double check their rules OP.

I'm pretty sure that if a former partner is living in an asset that you also own, you are entitled to UC still.

Jesuisatot · 19/09/2025 19:44

Double check their rules OP.

I'm pretty sure that if a former partner is living in an asset that you also own, you are entitled to UC still.

Jesuisatot · 19/09/2025 19:45

If you were renting it out to tenants, you wouldn't be entitled but I think an ex is different.

SeaskyEscape842 · 19/09/2025 19:52

You should get the property valued by 3 different estate agents. They can probably do an estimate online too.

AmIHumanOrAmIAYeti · 19/09/2025 19:53

Kelly1969 · 19/09/2025 19:35

That’s the situation I’m in, 9 years split and I’ve paid the full mortgage the whole time.
Problem is they don’t count how much I’ve paid, they look at how much is left to pay on the mortgage compared to 9 years ago-that’s what a mediator told me anyway.
Which means they’re not accounting for interest!

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Of course they don’t consider the interest!

Jesuisatot · 19/09/2025 19:54

@MapleHazelLatte

Shelter say this:

If you split up with your partner
Your former home is ignored in these situations:

as long as your ex partner lives there as a single parent
you moved out in the last 6 months after a break up
you've taken steps to sell the property in the last 6 months

The DWP can ignore it for more than 6 months if you do everything you can to try and sell. They can also ignore money from a sale for up to 6 months if you plan to buy another home with it.

Sometimes UC staff aren't as well versed in the rules as you might think.

Surely the following would apply:

If you split up with your partner
Your former home is ignored in these situations:

as long as your ex partner lives there as a single parent

GlitteryRainbow · 19/09/2025 19:55

MapleHazelLatte · 19/09/2025 08:27

@BeastAngelMadwoman from what I can gather (mostly from Google and chat GPT as UC give such vague answers) they have classed my name being on a house I’m not residing in as capital over £16k. I’ve told them all along my name is still on the mortgage though, I never hid it.

Is your name just on the mortgage? Or on the house deeds? I believe it’s the deeds that are important not the mortgage. The deeds say who owns the house and depending on the type of tenants if you own 50:50 or not.

Roobarbtwo · 19/09/2025 19:56

Jesuisatot · 19/09/2025 19:54

@MapleHazelLatte

Shelter say this:

If you split up with your partner
Your former home is ignored in these situations:

as long as your ex partner lives there as a single parent
you moved out in the last 6 months after a break up
you've taken steps to sell the property in the last 6 months

The DWP can ignore it for more than 6 months if you do everything you can to try and sell. They can also ignore money from a sale for up to 6 months if you plan to buy another home with it.

Sometimes UC staff aren't as well versed in the rules as you might think.

Surely the following would apply:

If you split up with your partner
Your former home is ignored in these situations:

as long as your ex partner lives there as a single parent

The ex partner isn't living there as a single parent. They aren't even paying the OP child maintenance

Lovingbooks · 19/09/2025 19:59

Jesuisatot · 19/09/2025 19:54

@MapleHazelLatte

Shelter say this:

If you split up with your partner
Your former home is ignored in these situations:

as long as your ex partner lives there as a single parent
you moved out in the last 6 months after a break up
you've taken steps to sell the property in the last 6 months

The DWP can ignore it for more than 6 months if you do everything you can to try and sell. They can also ignore money from a sale for up to 6 months if you plan to buy another home with it.

Sometimes UC staff aren't as well versed in the rules as you might think.

Surely the following would apply:

If you split up with your partner
Your former home is ignored in these situations:

as long as your ex partner lives there as a single parent

OP hasn’t taken steps to sell the property after 6 months so again an exemption won’t apply, on the face of the rules and from OP posts UC has been overpaid. OP now needs to liase with DWP on how to repay.