I have a phone review after bank statements I’m worrying myself sick

fussy

hi I’m hopeing someone can shed some light on this, I had a message from uc in my journal a while back asking for 4 months bank statements, I’ve sent them off and now I have a phone appointment for half an hour to discuss, I’m worried sick over this to the point my anxiety is throu the roof. I’ve had a large payment go in as I sold my car and the next day I bought back my old pony from years ago ( o do also work I just have uc too up as I’m on my own) I’ve also had a couple of payments go in from a few months back where I sold a car to a friend who paid in instalments, my savings have not gone over 6k aside from one day where it was over but I made that purchase which took it down so I didn’t feel I needed to tell them for a day. I’m worried now and have spoken to a couple of people and they say I should of told uc even if it was for a day, I’m also worried they will see that spending as suspicious even though It’s not. Im a mother and I’m petrified of what they will do, as it’s on their discretion. I suffer with high anxiety and my mind spirals to the worse situations possible like prosecution/prison I just need some advise

Rosie_Scope

Hi @fussy, sorry that you didn't get a reply before your call. How did it go? These systems can really spike your anxiety and its no wonder you're struggling with it.

Even if they do find that you haven't done something quite right, the first course of action for them is usually is to calculate whether you might have been overpaid. You would then have a repayment plan put into place to pay back anything that you might owe them. They wouldn't send you to prison. Lots of people make honest mistakes or misunderstand things and the easiest thing for the DWP to do is to change payments rather than prosecute people.

Hope everything went as well as it could!

fussy

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1125805#Comment_1125805

hi my phone call is next week I’m struggling to sleep and eat I know I’m an over thinker anyway It’s just a couple people said to me they think they may see a couple things as sus but I’ve not meant in any way to reduce my savings etc and I’m just really worried I will get someone that’s not so understanding etc

Rosie_Scope

Sorry @fussy, I misread your post thinking it was in half an hour rather than it being a phone call lasting half an hour, that's my fault!

If you can explain to them what happened with your car and show where your money comes in and out, there shouldn't be too much of a problem. Sometimes they might ask for evidence like receipts or further statements, but not always.

If you're able to, it might be a good idea to make some notes about certain payments to keep with you for the phone call in case they ask and you get stuck. Just try to be as open and honest as you can. It's always worrying not knowing who you'll get to speak to, but fingers crossed they'll be friendly and understanding.

fussy

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1125852#Comment_1125852

thankyou yea I have receipts for the sale of the car etc I just don’t want them to see it as sus when it’s not in work 2 jobs and I’m trying to get out of the system all together just feels like a massive infringement of my privacy I get they have to do it to a certain degree. I just hate how it’s making me feel and the worry I hate anything like this almost feel like I’m under interrogation, I don’t care if I have to pay stuff back it’s just my mind is spiralling

Rosie_Scope

That's good about the receipts @fussy. It can feel so invasive to have to give up all this information to them. And when you're already dealing with anxiety and mental health issues, it's just another thing to worry about.

It sounds like you've got all the evidence to back up your spending, so they should be able to take that into account and hopefully it'll all go through smoothly.

fussy

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1125873#Comment_1125873

Thankyou I hope so I just want it over with

SheffieldMan1976

@fussy Don't be losing sleep over this, that's what they want you to do.