UC credit review

jo1993

I have a UC review coming up but about 6 years ago I got married when I was in a bad place the marriage lasted a week. My passport is in my maiden name but my bank is in the married name coz I changed it the day after we got married but leaned a few days later he had been cheating, anyway long story short my banks in a different name to my passport. It’s the only thing in that name coz I didn’t get chance to change anything else. I’ve made myself ill over this!
please don’t be too harsh with me I know it was a stupid mistake.

Rosie_Scope

Hi @jo1993, welcome to the community. These reviews can be quite nerve-wracking but if you explain your circumstances they should understand. They review lots of people every day, so I'm sure your situation won't be totally new to them ☺️

Do you have any documentation that shows you got married? For example, a marriage certificate. Or anything that shows that you were divorced or annulled (if this has happened)? They may not even ask for this but it might be useful to have it in case they do.

If you don't have your marriage certificate any more, you could try using this service: Order a birth, death, marriage or civil partnership certificate - GOV.UK

They should explain to you in your review appointment what other documents they might need as proof (if any).

Have you got long to wait before your appointment?

jo1993

I have a marriage certificate but no divorce papers as I couldn’t afford to do that. We had a son together in 2020 during lock down just after the second one we got married as it was such a scary time we got married and then bam found out he cheated. I’m still in contact with him as we have a son and he’s since become a drug addict. I sometimes let him stop as he has no where else to go. I’m honestly so mad with myself because my bank will have transactions to him on them. Honestly I’ve been up for a few nights now coz I can’t sleep or eat and my stomachs in knots from the worry. I’m trying not to think that they will flag me for fraud coz that will send me over the edge mentally.

Rosie_Scope

That sounds really rough @jo1993, sorry you went through all that. And sorry to hear that this review is affecting you so much too. The worry of it all can be really hard to deal with.

The main things they're looking for in these reviews are people who are going over the set savings limits. They're also on the look out for people hiding money or making expensive purchases to keep themselves below the limits. From what you've told me, it doesn't sound like you're doing either of those things. Sometimes they might ask for some evidence of certain payments or accounts, but they'll explain to you what they might need to see on the call.

Just try to be open and honest if they ask you questions and hopefully it'll all go through nice and smoothly. I know it's not always easy to put the worry out of your mind, but lots of people I've spoken to have found these reviews were easier than they expected, so I hope that'll be the case for you ☺️

jo1993

I have heard loads of horror stories about people in this sort of situation and the fact he’s stopped a few times makes me think it’s worse. He has my address down on his UC claim although he is changing that and his electoral registration to his mums address asap because I can’t deal with the stress. My claim is for me and my child o my he is not on that claim nor has he ever been.

Holly_Alumni

The bad stories are often the ones most talked about which makes it feel more common annoyingly. It sounds like you're in a better place and just tying up the lose ends with addresses so you can move forward. I bet it will be a relief once that's all done and dusted. 😊