giving to charity while on universal credit

axab43

Are you allowed to give small amounts of money, ie £50, to a friend for a gift if you are on Universal Credit. Also, when Universal Credit assessors examine bank statements, do they ask what you are spending your money on and why? Ie why you do two food shops a week sometimes, what you are buying from Amazon, even if the purchases are small? Sometimes I book a community travel car for a friend who cannot do this and pay the £5 booking fee myself. Will these things be questioned when bank statements are examined?

Chris75_

I wouldn't think gifts break any rules. I have been sending my daughters money for years.

It is suspicious activity and undeclared savings they are looking for as far as I know.

Kimi87

Unfortunately no one can predict what you'll be asked if you have one of these checks.

Chris75_

While you're here @kimi87, do you think the likes of me are a low priority, having no savings? I haven't been asked for any statements as of yet.

Kimi87

I have no idea how they select claims for a check, as far as I know it's random.

OverlyAnxious

It definitely seems to be random. My spending habits have changed drastically over the past few months and still nothing from UC yet… I will be very surprised if I don't get reviewed by the end of the year. But that will at least prove the reviews aren't being triggered by spending or savings…

To answer the title, I do give small amounts to a few charities and don't expect that to cause any issues if & when I get reviewed.