Advice needed after review

doffy1122

Hi All, just want some advice please.

I’m currently on UC as me and my partner had split and he has moved out and I’m with the kids. I currently have a child under 2 so can’t work at the moment as I look after them full time hence on UC.

This issue has come as I misunderstood the £6,000 rule and believed that accounts only needed to be declared if total savings were over £6,000.

So when they had asked for 4 month bank statements I forwarded my private account and it has showing a £15 transfer from a shared account I have with my Ex.

The arrangement I currently have with my Ex is such that I look after the kids and he helps out by paying the house bills that I’m living at etc. When I applied for UC I didn’t ask for any help to cover housing as my ex had moved out of the house we were living in. We had this shared account from when we were together and currently he sends around £200 a week which is for the bills etc and then £150 a month on a seperate account which Is for the kids etc.

I am now being asked to provide bank statements for that account and from there they will see the other.

I am really anxious and worried now that I may be in trouble for not having noted these accounts. At no point has the money ever gone close to £6000, and the money in the accounts is there just to pay bills etc. Can anyone advise what will happen as I’m really worried and not sure what to do.

Im guessing I will have to report the other accounts but will I be in trouble for not mentioning these earlier as I seem to have misunderstood the £6000 rule.

Kimi87

Any and all bank accounts do need to be declared.

You won't get into any trouble especially as you've said total capital has never gone above £6k.

It might also be simpler for you in future to close the shared account, and open a new one in your name or use another of your accounts.

Some of the digital app bank accounts allow you to have one account, with multiple "pots", the money in these is kept away from the main balance until you want to use it.

Mary_Scope

Hi @doffy1122 and a warm welcome to the community from me!

I see Kimi has already answered your question so I won't add anything new today but it's lovely to have you here and I hope you enjoy your time on the community😊

doffy1122

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1094258#Comment_1094258

my next steps are to do as you said and give them the information.

Regarding the money being sent to the shared account, I understand that child maintenance is dismissed and doesn’t affect the UC payment. 
What are the payments into the shared account for stuff like the mortgage broadband gas water electricity etc termed under? The bank statement shows £200 a week going in and then bills automatically taken out. If there has been any additional build up of funds and I was to take out, it’s always taken out with a note eg (buying clothes for baby).

Is there anything in the above that could trigger a repayment?

doffy1122

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1094348#Comment_1094348

Thanks for the welcome @Mary_Scope

Regarding the money being sent to the shared account, I understand that child maintenance is dismissed and doesn’t affect the UC payment. 
What are the payments into the shared account for stuff like the mortgage broadband gas water electricity etc termed under? The bank statement shows £200 a week going in and then bills automatically taken out. If there has been any additional build up of funds and I was to take out, it’s always taken out with a note eg (buying clothes for baby).

Is there anything in the above that could trigger a repayment?