Universal Credit claim review - PLEASE HELP!

[Mumof3gome]

I just want to start this message with saying - please no judgement..

So just for a bit of background I'm a 30 year old female, full time carer to my son and my grandmother. I have 3 children 1 boy aged 12, 2 girls aged 10 & 2. I live with my all my children and my partner.

We have a joint universal credit claim, I also receive High Rate DLA for my son and carers allowance. My partner works full time.

I have been helping out a family friend for around 2 years, just popping in when I'm nearby and doing some little household chores/ironing/helping with washing/picking up food etc for them, during this time I didn't receive any money from the family friend at all. But 6 months ago I passed my driving test and he insisted on sending me some money weekly for petrol/spend on the kids/get yourself something nice. I think the reason he wanted to start sending me some money is because I'm also doing his washing and drying and picking it up and taking it back so he's aware that is quite a bit to do without payment - I never ever asked for money I just wanted to help this family friend.

Now the problem is - UC have just asked for 4 months of banks statements from me and my partner for a claim review. I sent them all obviously, and I was speaking to a friend that also had a review and she has said that the money he sends me weekly (anywhere from £30-£60 never any more than that) is going to be seen as regular income 😭😭😭

I'm now absolutely petrified as I just didn't consider this to be a "job" or income, it's more a favour and a out the kindness of my heart type thing! I really don't know what to do but I can't eat, I can't sleep. I'm so scared 😭!!!

If anybody has ANY advice whatsoever on what the outcome of this is going to be or what I am going to say or do I'd be so grateful 😩

Thank you for reading xx

No actually his daughter has done it with him, god I feel sorry for anybody that you have to help/care for in the future. You clearly are a seriously negative human being 😂. Replying to threads on here is probably your best pass time. Good luck with your bitter, skeptical life!

Trust me I will. Because whatever the outcome, I'll put it on here to help other users. You're just a pointless user that needs to get a life, or improve the one you're already clearly so unhappy with 😊. Bye - for now!

Any update Op? Have DWP been in contact yet?

They called 2 days ago and needed us to resend our ID as it wasn't clear enough, they've been sent off now just awaiting the review interview. I've explained the situation above ^^ and the man said alot of people do the same thing I'm not the only one and we can discuss further in the interview. So I'll update you as and when I have the appointment :) are you in a similar boat?

if the call isn’t from compliance, I don’t think you have anything to worry about.

Still no sign of a review appointment just yet! Will post when I get one x

How you coping op? Review now a distant memory?

The review still hasn't happened. They have a huge back log so I have no idea when it will take place

You will be fine op don’t worry about it. I had to have reviews up until I stopped claiming 1 year ago and my money was constantly changing with new jobs, my boyfriend would send me money every month and then extra payments towards food shopping etc which no references saying what it was for, I also got money from parents and my ex for unofficial maintenance, in total it was around 1k going in to my bank from different people and I remember having to explain the reason for each payment which I did. All of it was to help me out financially or pay towards something else. I got a lump sum from a house sale and I was stressed about that but that also worked out fine I just had to pay back what I was over payed during that period, you won’t get jail time for it. I never understood the system, it’s all online and nobody helps you face to face, it’s so easy to slip up. Everyone I spoke to on the phone was helpful and I’m sure they will help you too.

Don’t worry OP. Some posters like to scare carers of family members who are also good neighbours by implying that they are defrauding the benefit system by working illegally. You are not working illegally. You are reimbursed for your costs of voluntary care for a vulnerable long term friend of the family. You are already on a limited income and not afford to do this without being reimbursed for your costs. The social contact you provide is not charged but given freely.

If you were doing this as a job on the side for money, the person you shopped for or did laundry for would be a stranger. This is not the case.

Hiya, thank you for your response, I really appreciate your insight. At least there are still some understanding people out there :)

They won’t care about the money as you have a genuine reason for it. I tied myself up in knots over my review but they don’t care about friends or family sending you money. I get cash weekly from my kids grandparents - it’s their pocket money. I explained this and we moved on to the next question “what is Very and why did you spend £78 there?”

Hey OP, did you have your phone appointment? How did it go?

Hi! To everybody that has been waiting for an update here it is!

I had my review today at 12pm and my partners was straight after at 1pm. My review took all of 22 minutes, their main concern is having capital over the £6k allowance and not declaring. Also having loads of hidden money in bank accounts. They classed the weekly money I get as "gifts from friends or family" and told me I am doing nothing wrong. It hasn't been classed as regular income and won't be in any future assessments. I have been worried SICK over this review for so long and I wasted alot of unnecessary stress. It was ALL fine. They had lots of questions regarding savings, capital, post office accounts, bonds etc. None of which I have, so that was easy. They then had 3 other questions:

1. What is "save the change?" Obviously this is a round up the pennies type savings account with Lloyds so that was easy to answer
2. What is the transaction on such and such date for £75 going into your bank? Easy, it was my friend paying me her half for concert tickets we ordered (they could see right underneath I'd purchased them for £150) no problem at all
3. Where is your child benefit paid into, we can't see it on any of your statements? Again, easy to answer. It's with a credit union until I've paid them off and then it'll be going back into my bank.

So guys, honestly ignore the people that post of these threads trying to scaremonger and accuse, it's genuinely not worth stressing over. Unless of course you're hiding thousands of undeclared money!

Thanks so much for updating! I cannot get over the fact that it took 3 months for the review though 😨

TBF, there were a couple of bumps in the road. There was the situation where both our passport pictures we sent weren't to their standards they need. So we had to resend those over, then my partner had to send another month of bank statements. I then had to send my savings account attached to my Lloyds bank, so there's been a couple of things that have delayed it. It was the longest 3 months of my life 😂

No correct ...standard review asks for 4 month bank statments every one is having one

Forgot about this thread. Just so you all know, everything was absolutely fine with my review. I didn't even get asked about the small amounts going in but gave the information up beforehand. They were absolutely fine with it and I've had no sanctions at all. I'm off UC now after receiving a substantial amount of inheritance anyway but just for anyone worried or concerned, it really isn't worth the sleepless nights!