Universal credit appointee review issue

elle2

my son is 21. He has profound autism severe learning difficulties and now epilepsy. He lives in a small residential care home he cannot speak read alright and is approximately one year-old mentally I am his pointy and receive his universal credit into my bank account which was all set up accordingly however I’ve now been told I need to have a review and that they will probably want to see four months bank statements, but it’s not me that has the Universal Credit entitlement. It’s my son and he doesn’t have a bank account. How is this going to pan out having my financial details?

elle2

just to add, the UC is in my sons name but as they know he’s unable to manage his own funds it goes into my account for me to oversee and provide things for him. I’m not on any benefits myself and I can’t see why my personal finances are their business. Nothing has changed since his original claim. Appreciate all feedback

Kimmy87

UC are undertaking millions of these checks, lots of us on here have been through one.

They need to make sure your son's payments are correct, which means looking at his finances.

In this case it means looking at your finances too as you share a bank account.

I know myself how intrusive these checks are, but if you don't provide the information they ask for you put his payments at risk of stopping.

As a long term solution, you could consider applying to the Court of Protection to manage his financial affairs more fully.

This would give you authority to open & operate a personal bank account for him and separate your finances.

https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/become-a-deputy

poppy123456

This is the problem when you're an appointee for someone and they do a review of the claim. They will want to see bank statements but I don't know how it would work because it's your bank account but you manage his benefits on his behalf.

I'm also my daughter's appointee and her money goes into my bank account but she has her own bank account and I transfer her money to her and I support her this way. Her bank are aware that I do this and they've been extremely helpful and very understanding.

She also claims UC but we haven't yet had this review. When they ask to see my statements they will be able to see that I transfer the money to her. I claim means tested benefits myself and have nothing to hide but that's not the point.

Are you able to open another bank account for his money to go into, rather than it go into your personal account? This would be better especially if another review like this happens.

There's been other members here that are appointees and have been through this review but they haven't returned with any feedback sadly.

elle2

I was unable to open an account in his name. Universal Credit were fine with me having the money put into my account on his behalf when the claim began they knew the situation. Fully. There is no point in him having his own account because he won’t be able to access the money himself. It will literally just sit there piling up being unspent. I was unable to open a joint account because he is unable to sign for one so as per usual there’s a catch 22 situation, must be around this if they want to see my bank account and the money going in it they can but I’m just gonna react every other transaction which is none of their business. I guess that’s the only way around it supposed to be getting a phone call Monday from his , work coach who in the past has been really helpful what’s not being helpful? Is that I’ve had to get in touch with you to inform them of my change of mobile phone number which again can’t be done over the phone so I’m waiting to talk to his work coach about that otherwise I might have been able to resolve this .

poppy123456

When I mentioned a different bank account, I meant in your name, not his.

elle2

going forward I may have to go thus - although the perhaps should’ve told me to do this at the time. They also told me it was up to me how I managed his money in his behalf, no recrois needed etc. I have no specific proof of all the extras I have bought him, aside from the money I give his care home monthly for activities snd takeaways. Feeling anxious about this especially as I’ve got to wait for Monday for a call,

Kimmy87

If you became a Deputy for him through the courts, you could open and operate an account in his name with full legal authority.

The money would still be spent on his behalf by you, just from an account in his name and not yours.

I did try redacting a few of my statements, and this wasn't allowed, so it might not be for you.

elle2

that’s interesting, because I spoke to someone at UC yesterday that deals with reviews and he told me I could redact everything I didn’t want them to see so basically all they’re gonna see in that case is the universal credit going into the account and the amount that’s in there at the end of the statement, as usual, they say one thing and something ? I’m confused what they’re looking for on these statements. He lives in a care home. I’m not going to be spending £725 a month on excursions and pants. Are they trying to see that you spend every single penny or what? I’m baffled?

Kimmy87

I believe they are mainly checking to make sure people don't have undeclared capital, over £6000 entitlement gets reduced and over £16000, entitlement stops.

Possibly looking for deliberate deprivation of capital too.

elle2

my son has no savings at all, but obviously I do and I have more than £16,000 I’m a homeowner but the benefit isn’t in my name. It’s in his name so my personal finances I don’t believe an issue in this case. But I appreciate your answer. I just feel like I wasn’t told to set it up any differently initially and now I feel stressed.

Kimmy87

These checks only started in the last year or two, so I don't think the advice you received at the time was wrong, things have just changed since then.

poppy123456

The issue here is that you are his appointee and the money goes into your bank account. Is that capital yours or his from his benefits? If he's not spending the money then he must have capital? No, you don't have to spend every single penny because capital of less than £6,000 is ignored.

elle2

hi poppy, it’s my capital but not in that account. My capital is totally separate in long term savings.