UNIVERSAL credit claimants must report certain changes to their circumstances – or risk being fined or taken to court.
The benefit payment is given out to people who need help with living costs.
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You can usually get it if you’re on a low income, out of work or you can’t work.
It’s paid monthly and is replacing other benefits like Housing Benefit, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Income Support.
However many Universal Credit claimants might be unaware that they need to report certain changes in circumstances to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
If you don’t report one of these 18 changes, you could have your benefits stopped, be fined or even taken to court.
Here’s what you need to know…
What counts as a change in circumstances?
Universal Credit is calculated based on your specific circumstances so you must let the DWP know if there’s anything that could affect your payments.
Not updating them is a criminal offence because you could be paid more in benefits than you’re owed.
This is the full list of what the DWP considers to be a change in circumstances:
- Finding or finishing a job
- Having a child
- Moving in with your partner
- Starting to care for a child or disabled person
- Your child stopping or restarting education or training, if they’re aged 16 to 19
- Changing your mobile number or email address
moving to a new address - Going outside Great Britain for any length of time, if you live there
- Going outside Northern Ireland for any length of time, if you live there
- Changing your bank details
- Your rent going up or down
- Changes to your health condition
- Becoming too ill to work or meet your work coach
- If a medical professional has said you’re nearing the end of life
changes to your earnings (only if you’re self-employed)
changes to your savings, investments and how much money you have - Changes to your immigration status, if you’re not a British citizen
This means that if you’re on holiday you will need to notify your work coach and you’ll also need to keep meeting the conditions of your Universal Credit claim.
That means if you’re in the intensive work group and have to spend a minimum amount of hours per week looking for a job, you have to keep doing this.
Claimants can stay abroad for one month and carry on receiving payments.
How do I let the DWP know?
You’ll need to get in touch with the DWP as soon as possible.
You can do this by sending a message to your work coach via your Universal Credit journal.
But you can also call the free Universal Credit helpline, which is open between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday.
The number is 0800 328 5644, or you can textphone to 0800 328 1344.
To speak to someone in the Welsh language, call 0800 012 1888.
What happens if I don’t tell them?
You could be taken to court or have to pay a fine if you give the wrong information or don’t report a change.
If you’re suspected of taking advantage of the benefit system, you may be visited by a Fraud Investigation Officer.
You could also be asked to attend an “interview under caution” to talk about your claim.
These are formal interviews and will be recorded, and could be used as part of a criminal investigation against you.
If you’ve committed or attempted fraud, you will need to pay back the overpaid money.
You could also have to pay a fine of between £350 and £5,000.
Another punishment could include having your benefits reduced or even stopped altogether, which is known as a sanction.
What if I forgot to report changes? And can I appeal?
If a genuine mistake has been made or you have a good reason, you may be able to appeal.
You can argue your case with the DWP if:
- You did the activity they say you haven’t done
- You had a good reason for the activity you’ve been sanctioned for
- You’ve been sanctioned for something that wasn’t in your claimant commitment
- Your original claimant commitment was inappropriate for your circumstances
- If you’ve been sanctioned for not taking a job, stopping work or losing pay – eg if it was offered to you during a strike
- You weren’t properly notified of an appointment
- If you’re in the ‘all work-related requirements group’ and had particular circumstances that meant you shouldn’t have been sanctioned, like if you had to go to court as a witness or a defendant
If any of these are the case, you can contact Citizens Advice on 0800 144 8 444 for England, 0800 023 2 581 for Scotland or 080 002 4 1220 for Wales to discuss how you will appeal.
Another option is to chat to an adviser on its website between 8am and 6pm.
They will help you take out a ‘mandatory reconsideration’ against the DWP.