Universal Credit claimants have been warned to declare 20 changes or risk fines. Even if the changes don’t lead to overpayments, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) warned that Brits could face a £50 fine, or have their payments reduced or stopped altogether if it is not reported « straight away ».
As you’d expect, you are required to inform the DWP if your income changes, but the list also covers a wider range of circumstances, including changing your name, getting a new doctor or moving house. The DWP stated: « You need to report changes to your circumstances so you keep getting the right amount of benefits. Your claim might be stopped or reduced if you do not report a change straight away or if you give incorrect information. »
It cautioned: « If you do not report a change or a mistake, you might be paid too much. If you are, you might have to pay some of the money back. You might also have to pay a £50 penalty. »
However, it can get even more serious if withholding information plunges you into the realms of benefit fraud, when someone deliberately claims government benefits they are not entitled to. Penalties may include hefty administrative fines, court action, or repayment of overpaid funds.
The DWP will launch a targeted communications campaign at the end of January to combat high levels of benefit fraud, especially for those who do not accurately report their living situations, reports Birmingham Live.
If you negligently gave incorrect information or failed to notify a change in your circumstances without a reasonable excuse, you may face serious penalties.
In lieu of criminal prosecution, you may be required to pay a civil penalty of £350 or 50% of the overpaid amount, whichever is greater, rising to a maximum of £5,000.
If you’re receiving multiple benefits, then you’ll need to report any changes to more than one organisation.
According to the DWP website, you should alert relevant departments about the following changes:
- Changing your name or gender
- Finding or finishing a job, or working different hours
- Your income going up or down
- Starting or stopping education, training or an apprenticeship
- Moving house
- People moving into or out of the place you live (for example your partner, a child or lodger)
- The death of your partner or someone you live with
- Having a baby
- Starting or stopping caring for someone
- Getting married or divorced
- Starting or ending a civil partnership
- Planning to go abroad for any length of time
- Going into hospital, a care home or sheltered accommodation
- Any changes to your medical condition or disability
- Changing your doctor
- Changes to your pension, savings, investments or property
- Changes to other money you get (for example student loans or grants, sick pay or money you get from a charity)
- Changes to the benefits you or anyone else in your house gets
- You or your partner getting back-pay (sometimes called ‘arrears’) for salary or earnings you’re owed
- Changes to your immigration status, if you’re not a British citizen
Report changes using your Universal Credit online account, or contact the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.
