Universal credit review

[Whiskyfromsmallglasses]

Hi just a quick question about 3 weeks ago I was asked for 4 months worth of bank statements which I submitted. I've now to have a 30min phonecall to "discuss evidence submitted and gain further evidence"

Does anyone know what I will be asked? Would just like to be prepared as possible for the phone call. As far as I'm aware it's regarding income, savings and investments but I've read things on forums about people being questioned on money they have spent. Surely that's not correct?

I had the same recently. I was worried but it was fine. The call lasted ten minutes instead of the 30 mins they said it would take. He said it was a random review, not for any particular reason. He was very nice and said he did have some questions but found his answers by going through my bank statements. I basically had to answer lots of questions about whether I had savings, investments, property! All of which I answered honestly as no of course.

So it's completely routine. I had a lovely chap do mine. They just run through a script of questions. Expect to be asked again how many accounts you have and of what type. They're just checking the info they have is right.

They asked about a cash deposit of £500 to my current account. This was for a potential car purchase (I changed my mind about the car). I had withdrawn money at an ATM from a credit card. They could see I then paid the credit card back a few days later so they were happy with this.

If you had regular income from the same person or were taking out large amounts of cash they might ask about it. Remember even if you are stashing it under your bed, it's savings that you are meant to declare so they will be checking for this.

It's very straightforward so please don't worry!

Thank you. I keep being told it's routine (which I fully understand) but I know a number of people who claim and they have told me they have never once been asked to submit bank statements. I also had to have a phone interview at summer there because I'm in a term time job and they wanted to know why my wages had gone below the aet. Again routine (understandable) but my colleague who is on the exact same contract wasn't contacted about her reduction in wages.

If all these checks are routine then surely everyone should be getting asked the same things. I started claiming in February and I've had to go into the local job centre once, had two phonecalls about the aet and then this one I'm due next week for a review, asked to provide 4 months of bank statements. I've twice in two separate occasions been asked to provide id. I was also asked to provide a total that was paid into my current account for every month from the previous year. They asked for this about a month after starting the claim (this was never followed up so I have no idea why they asked for this) this has all been since February so in a 9 month period.

I just feel they are constantly at me for something it can be very stressful. Is it because I'm a new claimant? Will this settle down? Or is this something I need to expect from now on?

It does sound like they have had a lot of interaction with you. You could ask about that at the end of the review? Just explain that you feel there has been a lot of questions asked and is there anything they think you need to provide now or in the future.

Everyone will get reviewed, l it’s nothing to worry about unless you’re earning on the side and haven’t declared

Can I ask how they could check you had money stuffed under your bed?

@Disturbia81 I am not earning on the side. I have one job that is declared. All savings have been declared and I have an empty current account that I even sent four months worth of £0 statements as well as I didn't want to get accused of having an account I didn't tell them about. I have nothing to hide. I just feel my level of contact with them is far higher than anyone I know

@DiscoBob good luck to them if they want to search under my bed. Hope they aren't asthmatic lol

Well if you are withdrawing £500 a month in cash and unable to give a good reason for it then they can ask if you have that saved somewhere. Obviously there are many ways to answer this and many ways to use the funds but they are enquiring to build up a picture.
I am not saying they will come and look under your bed! But they may ask if you are keeping a lot of cash at home and if so how much etc. no idea what they would do with this info if they didn't believe your answer.

Ah ok yeah that makes sense. I just thought of them bursting round people's houses! Lol

Then you’re fine! I sent all my empty accounts too. Everyone is getting a review

The review is completely normal and everyone is having them.

As they’re doing a follow-up call, there must be something on the statements they want to ask more questions about.
As above, could be quite a large withdrawal or something similar.
Once review is complete, you will get a journal message stating it’s complete and that should be it.

The aet appts will only ever happen if you drop below the earnings (£972 I think if single claim) Be aware, if term time only, the same thing will happen again. If you get an understanding work coach, you can leave journal message explaining and they may change to phone appointment to make it easier.
Colleague may not have needed one if their circumstances are different, maybe have a partner earning amount required, younger children than yours, caring responsibilities for example.

@thisfilmisboring123 at the last phone call about aet which was during the school summer holidays I explained I was term time and I didn't get paid. I did ask if this was going to be a reoccurring phone call and she said yes basically it will be. I don't see how there can't be a note added to my record stating I'm term time so there will be points during the year that my wages are non existent. Saves time making phone calls every single time

It’s bloody stupid but they won’t add anything like that.

At the end of every assessment period, they’ll be notified of what you’ve earned - if it falls less than AET, they have no choice but to book a commitments review, then usually a follow-up work search review appt.

Waste of everyone’s time and their resources.

Work coaches will be able to look at previous journal messages and see it’s term-time only but I’ve not come across a work coach who won’t book the appt.

I guess they’re just following the rules and probably don’t have much discretion.
Not even all work coaches will book a phone appt, some will actually make you go to the job centre! So at least yours is one of the more upstanding ones!

@thisfilmisboring123 I don't think I actually have a set work coach I've always spoken to someone different. Same with replies in my journal, don't think I've seen the same name twice.

Yeah I can understand they have to follow the guidelines but it's frustrating having to explain the same thing over and over again

You won’t.
On the months were you’re earning above the AET, you won’t have a work coach assigned to your claim at all.
Then the months were you (supposedly) need one, they’ll assign one to you.
So can imagine probably is someone different replying.

Hopefully they’ll stick to phone appts, at least makes it easier but I get that it must be frustrating.

Hope all goes well on your claim review and hopefully the call will clear it all up. That should be last of it then.

Just a little update for anyone who is maybe looking for answers themselves. I had my review this afternoon took about 20 minutes. Mostly yes or no questions maybe about 15 of them and then a few more in depth questions about things coming into my account. Simple explanations and she noted my answers. Within 5 minutes of the call ending I received a message on my journal saying that the review was now complete