DWP 17 life events that could risk Universal Credit payments if claimants don’t act | Personal Finance | Finance

The Department identifies 17 such events, referred to as changes of circumstances, which claimants must report without delay or they risk facing sanctions, accumulating debt to the DWP or having their payments suspended entirely. In certain instances, this can even constitute benefit fraud which is a criminal offence.

Particular life changes must be reported to the DWP as they could affect how much you are entitled to, and postponing the report might result in you receiving excessive or insufficient amounts in your subsequent payments. Changes of circumstances can include:

• 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

Turn2Us advises that anyone facing difficulties due to failing to declare changes in their circumstances should “get expert advice as soon as you can”.

DWP guidance on Gov.uk warns: “You could be taken to court or have to pay a penalty if you give wrong information or do not report a change in your circumstances. Changes in your circumstances can affect how much you’re paid for your whole assessment period – not just from the date you report them.”

Should you receive more money than you are entitled to, this is referred to as an overpayment. You will be required to repay any excess funds you were not entitled to receive. The DWP may seek to recover these funds through:

• Future benefit payments
• Wages
• Getting a court order to recover the debt

Should you have been receiving less money than you were entitled to, this is referred to as an underpayment, and you could be eligible for a backdated payment from the DWP. This may be issued as a lump sum and in certain circumstances it can have an impact on means-tested benefits.