Hi, my name is traceyb01! Will UC ask about money my son pays me each month?

traceyb01
traceyb01 Online Community Member Posts: 6 Listener
edited April 24 in Universal Credit (UC)

Hi

Ive sent off bank statements. I get uc lcwra and pip. My son is my full time carer and pays into my account 350 every month to pay for his bills and food. I didnt know i had to tell uc. Also last year a friend over 8 months gave me 1200 as I was struggling with food and bills but because it didn't take me over 6k I didnt report it. I have copd so I also bought things to make my life easier as I'm housebound

What will uc say?

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Comments

  • Rosie_Scope
    Rosie_Scope Posts: 5,529 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Hi @traceyb01, you can accept gifts and money from others to help with your living costs. They may ask you what the money is for in your review, but as long as you can explain that it is to cover expenses and bills it should all be okay. It's always best to be honest and open if you can. Does your son live at home with you?

    They do sometimes ask you about your transactions or things that you've bought, but you are allowed to buy whatever you need with your money including things that are just nice to have. As long as it doesn't look as if you are deliberately buying lots of expensive things to keep your savings below the £6k limit which I'm sure you're not, it should all be alright.

    Hope your review goes okay 😊

  • traceyb01
    traceyb01 Online Community Member Posts: 6 Listener

    My son does live at home as he's my full time carer. He gives me his money as he has a basic cash card so can only get money out of a cash point and nothing else so he asks me if he can put money in my bank to get him items as I have a debit card. I'm housebound so I do everything on line but I'm feeling like a criminal now

  • Rosie_Scope
    Rosie_Scope Posts: 5,529 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Please don't feel like a criminal @traceyb01, it's not easy being in the benefits system but you're entitled to the help. If you can explain to them how things work with you and your son's finances, then hopefully all will be fine ☺️

  • RivetHead
    RivetHead Online Community Member Posts: 8 Listener

    Hello. Similar situation here, my mother is my full time carer and both her and I are on UC, but I get PIP and LCWRA. She's my appointee and my UC and PIP go into her bank account and she transfers money to me as and when I need it.

    She'll often buy things for me like food and such, and she keeps she keeps a portion of my UC each month for my share of the bills. After she buys me things, I'll either transfer money from my bank account back to her, or if it is a disability related purchase she will transfer money from her bank account that holds my PIP to her main bank account.

    As you can see, there's a lot of back and forth. My mother has has just had a UC review (the sort of spot-check they're doing to everyone now; the one involving bank statements) and this was explained to the interviewer over the phone, as she had picked up on these transactions.

    The interviewer wasn't worried at all and said it was completely fine. I think the same will be true in your case, because it's not an additional income, and as long as you are honest about these transactions then there shouldn't be a problem. Rosie_Scope is correct: explaining the way your finances work will help.

    I wish you well, and I hope that, even without being able to provide advice, I have helped in some way. Good luck!

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