Universal credit migration and DWP, Council debt

Needhelpandadvice

Thanks for any help given,

Over ten years ago now maybe fifteen years. I was found guilty in a court of law in relation to not notifying the DWP of a change of circumstance, my Nan had passed away and a year after I went into a drunken depression and I needed something to do to keep my mind occupied, as I was her carer and I then had nowhere to go.

The DWP and Council wanted every single penny back, which was a life time of debt and it still is.

The DWP are almost paid off as they took all of my back pay from ESA, PIP which was thousands.

However, I did end up with some savings below the threshold.

At the moment, I have that money in premium bonds so that I cannot spend it, as that money is pretty much spent, I was supposed to have moved into a ground floor flat, and currently looking to move, even though not getting much help from my housing association, I believe that the housing officer is discriminating against me, but that is another matter.

If the rumours are true that they will start manage migrating people in September regardless of what they are claiming.

I am currently on ESA support group with SDP, I am also on PIP pending my first review which I am not looking forward to, the paperwork is with them but back log.

However, the money that I have I am scared that they will want to take that from me to repay money that I owe the DWP and also the council. Which will leave me no money to pay for a removal truck, flooring etc etc for a new place.

My thoughts are to withdraw it from my PB account, pay for the rent for around three weeks until UC is sorted and also what bills I need to pay.

However, I am worried if I take out my savings and then put them back in, they will order me to give them the money and I will have nothing again.

Panic is setting in, especially for the future, like a lot of us are doing in relation to PIP etc.

I have sent an email to the CAB to see if I can get a meeting, but any help or advice would be much appreciated.

I know failure to notify the DWP is a serious offence, but as I say my Nan had passed away and I had no one in my life to talk to, I am still twenty one years alone, which is like solitary confinement which can cause mental health problems. However, I got a life time of debt and a life time criminal record, I would have had more rights if I had murdered someone and then been released.

Even if I gave them what little savings I have, then I would have no money to pay for a move, I would still have thousands of pounds of debt to pay back, so even if I pay £1,000 as an example, they would still expect £5,000 back again as an example, while I would have nothing.

I have never had a criminal conviction in my life, and have not had one since then.

Thanks for any help or suggestions.

Biblioklept

Premium bonds count as savings and capital so they were going to demand you pay it back from your savings they would have already done so @Needhelpandadvice, assuming you've told them you have them?

Do you have a payment plan in place with DWP for paying back the rest you owe?

UC is really quite good with debts as it would go to debt management and they are capped with what they can take each month, and from what I've heard are really reasonable with lowering amounts if you're struggling. ❤️

Although I'd think with all your wealth Elon you could just clear it easy 😉

Needhelpandadvice

Thanks for your reply, I live humbly just because I run Tesla and Space X, does not make me rich, I do it for humanity ;)

Yeah payment in place, but they took money from my ESA and PIP back pay, but they are still owed money.

The money that I have saved or not saved is to pay for moving to a ground floor place if I ever get one. However, with potential changes to PIP etc, then it was also an emergency fund to flee the Country and live on the streets in Gibraltar I cannot be homeless in the UK, bad enough living in a home and being cold.

At the moment I am not on UC and being honest, I do not want to be on it, it is a cruel inhumane welfare system. Legacy benefits were filled with legal loop holes which were illegal about how they treated people, which is why a lot of people committed suicide and eventually the Government had to accept responsibly for it, UC they have dotted the i's and crossed the t's so that it is not illegal if someone is homeless, or committing suicide. All the previous loop holes have been closed, which means that the Governments and the DWP have less legal action against them.

Sadly, I have less human rights, than if I had murdered someone, so I am not looking forward to UC that is for sure, as my human rights will be far less.

Thanks for your reply, much appreciated.

Elon

Biblioklept

The back pay is different to savings and capital, it sucks when they do it but they shouldn't ask you to pay with your savings, especially if you have a plan in place and are currently paying back via your ESA etc and same applies when you switch to UC ❤️

I understand your fear about UC but I've not found it to be half as bad as people say, in fact I've found it better in many ways!

Good luck with your move, I hope you sort things with the housing association @Needhelpandadvice

Needhelpandadvice

@Biblioklept Even though I have paid taxes all my life, but in a lot of respect, it is still tax payers money so does not make me feel good, ex forces and you cannot run or do press ups any more.

Bad health and debt is always depressing, but whoopee I have just been promoted to level 2, so I must be good at something lol

poppy123456

Uc works well for a lot of people. I manage my daughters claim and have done since she claimed back in 2021, I'm her appointee. I've never experienced any issues at all. I haven't needed to put any messages on her journal for a little over 2 years and have received no contact from them in that time.