Struggling to report a change

Minnie18

Hi all,

I'm just wondering if anyone can give me any advice please?

I get LCWRA and have a small income from an occupational pension. This pension has gone up a little which I'm struggling to report. I put a message on my journal about the increase and got no reply so I rang up and gave them the details. I then got a message on my journal saying someone would reply by 6pm the following day but again nothing. I waited for my statement to see if they'd updated the amount but they hadn't. Does anyone know what the best way is to report an increase in unearned income? I've given them the details twice now but am worried they will blame me for it not being reported. As I'm on lcwra I don't have a work coach to ask. Wondering if anyone else has had this problem and what they did. Many thanks xx

noonebelieves

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/133110/struggling-to-report-a-change

Hi @Minnie18 ,

I’m not a benefits expert, but I just wanted to share what I’ve done in a similar situation.

I reported changes in income by using the “Report a change” tab (UC Journal), then selecting “Work and Earnings.”

Would it be possible for you to try reporting the increase in unearned income through that option ?

Hope this helps a bit!

Best wishes,

Slonvinton

I would say write to your MP as in my experience its the only way to get anything done with UC- the journal is useless as they never seem to respond.

Santosha12

Hi @Minnie18 I had a similar situation - my small private pension was taxed but when I lost my job in June '23, it wasn't then taxed so pension increased by c 25.00 a month. I reported it on my journal (as its deducted off my UC) and they wrote back stating I don't need to report it as they know 🙄. Anyway, I forgot about it until last week and saw that they've never increased their deduction so I must owe c a few hundred pounds now which I don't have!

I've not dealt with it yet as worrying but I should.

Minnie18

Thank you all for your comments, it's definitely a worry that they make things so hard to report and then you could end up owing them money because of it. And what is the point of the journal if nobody ever monitors it?!? I think I will try reporting it through the work and earnings tab. I did wonder about this but was frightened of messing things up with my lcwra status. Thanks again everyone, I'll report back if I have any success xx

Santosha12

Good luck @Minnie18, I've also printed off the journal page that shows I reported it and their response, just really in case I don't have access in the future or they deny I reported it.

Girl_No1

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1018110#Comment_1018110

@Santosha12 you have just described my entire experience with ESA.

I report any increases to them, in advance of the increase, and send it via signed-for mail.

They ignore it, then write to me in awful tones saying they have 'become aware' of the increase, yeah because I freaking told you!!! That's followed by sternly-worded reminders of the changes I must report to them.

The tone of their communication is appalling, and it appears to be the same with UC. The tone is intended to put us in our place as scroungers/serfs/peasants, and them in their place as the generous benefactors.

Communication from them boils my blood, and I'm usually quite a calm person.

Minnie18

H everyone, Just thought I would let you all know that I finally got a reply on my journal to acknowledge the increase in my occupational pension income that I was trying to report. I massaged twice as had no reply to my first message. First time under the 'payment' heading and then secondly under 'change of circumstances'. It seems you just have to be persistent until someone finally sees it! Such a relief that it's finally been acknowledged. Xx

elainehe

we are having a similar problem, there seems to be no section to report an increase in private pension - tried to report under journal but they just keep contradicting themselves- nothing changes and worried about amounts increasing that I will owe