Anxious about backpay disregard + savings + reporting a change - need info and some reassurance

randomlygenerated
randomlygenerated Online Community Member Posts: 5 Listener

Practically, this is about the process of reporting a change with UC and what to expect.

But it's also about the impact of being on benefits on my mental health I guess.

Sorry this is long - I tried my best! I struggle to communicate clearly and to the point. I hope you bear with it anyway cause I could really use some encouragement if nothing else.

So timeline of events in order:

1. Lost job, lost place to live, got sick(er), some new diagnoses
2. Started applying for benefits due to burnout and new condition, while living off personal savings (<6k)
3. Almost 1 year ago: got PIP, got backpay lump sum of 3-4k
4. Partner & I applied for UC jointly, started receiving it (LCWRA for me)
5. Over time our savings grew just above £6000, but PIP backpay is disregarded for a year so didn't need to report it
6. The year is up soon - so need to report savings being over 6000+
7. Panic!

When I report this change, do I need to submit any evidence? Will that have to be done regularly thereafter?

I’m worried about the admin fatigue this could cause and the consequences of forgetting or not doing it on time because of ADHD and brain fog, and I’m anxious about the consequences. I’m also uncomfortable with the idea of my bank statements being scrutinised regularly (even though I know that’s probably just an anxiety trigger - my most luxurious expense is games when I have a flare up and can't do much).

I’ve tried to find clear, step-by-step info about what happens when you report a change when your savings go over £6k after the disregard period, but instead I keep stumbling on things that I'm quite sure aren't relevant to me (like deprivation of capital) but are vague enough that I misunderstand and panic about it.

It doesn’t help that political/media narratives around benefits, ADHD, chronic illness, immigrants (or god forbid, chronically ill neurodivergent immigrants on benefits!) have really worn me down. I just constantly feel like I'm gonna be in trouble for existing or unknowingly made some really bad mistake.

I also don’t especially trust the DWP or their contractors to have my best interests at heart, or act fairly if I did ever make a mistake. I expect them to try and trip people up. So right now, every time I try to plan what I need to do — like working out our savings total — I just spiral.

Does anyone have practical info or personal experience with this process? Words of reassurance also really welcome. Local advice services are basically inaccessible right now (CAB was a bad experience for me, and the other option is overbooked).

Thank you so much.