I have to say I am livid with getting an email at 4.40am on a Sunday!!

whistles
whistles Online Community Member Posts: 2,074 Championing

I had a message on the journal to say I have a compliance interview in a few weeks and to upload one bank statement. I did that and in the early hours of a Sunday morning I get a message that their records show I get ESA and this effects the amount of UC I get.

I know and they know I get it because I was merged over from ESA. What I didn't know was that I would get ESA NS and it would be deducted. But they've been deducting it from day one of my claim in June.

I am really annoyed that they have sent a message on ak weekend when clearly I can't do anything about it. And I still don't know if this interview is going to mean they've messed up the amount I should get.

It's a week before Christmas and I simply don't need this stress when the claim was actually straightforward. I have actually only had the "correct" amount for two cycles as the HB claimed they had overpaid and my benefit was reduced for four months to pay that back. ( The letter saying my HB claim was closed was fantastic as they've been a pain in the neck for years with letters that make no sense whatsoever! And at one point according me off owning a second property and sending me double council tax)

Never ever ever, have your council tax on a direct debit. They would have put me into debt if they had just taken thousands because they don't pay it back they take it off your next bill!!!!

Anyone else want to rant as well, join in

Because I can't think of what to reply to journal, they already know I get ESA because I was merged over??

Comments

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 8,170 Championing
    edited December 2025

    They are automated system messages to prompt you to keep your circumstances up to date.

    No further action such as a reply is needed. You can ignore them if you are still getting NS ESA.

    I get the same messages randomly, sometimes monthly for 3 months then not at all for 5. Mine are usually sent between 2-2:30am.

  • Trevor_PIP
    Trevor_PIP Online Community Member Posts: 1,225 Championing

    @whistles It may be a benefit thing about council tax not being not paid back, just knocked off your bills. Or different Council rules.

    My council were great. I over paid on my property (long story) for a few years and they had absolutely no issue in sending me a 4 figure cheque. In addition, a family member who was ill was unaware of discounts available because of the illness. I sorted this out with no problems. This was backdated at least two years and again, I could have had the money back but I left it on my family members account, they did not pay council tax for more than two years after that.

  • whistles
    whistles Online Community Member Posts: 2,074 Championing

    I still have the compliance interview for some reason then.

  • whistles
    whistles Online Community Member Posts: 2,074 Championing

    Sadly with my council when I overpaid the CT they just said it would be taken off the next property. They all have their own rules don't they.

  • Trevor_PIP
    Trevor_PIP Online Community Member Posts: 1,225 Championing

    Probably, it will be a rule, they have different rules between c councils.

  • whistles
    whistles Online Community Member Posts: 2,074 Championing

    So anyone else had over if these compliance calls?

    Is it just random as only just migrated over

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 5,598 Championing

    There are more and more random reviews being done for UC now. Usually they ask for 4 months bank statements though. As you've only been asked for one statement, it does sound like this has been triggered by some sort of anomaly that they need to check. Savings over £6k or private pension income or similar.

  • whistles
    whistles Online Community Member Posts: 2,074 Championing

    I don't have savings over six thousand or a private pension.

    I only applied in June and they've asked for July statement.

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 5,598 Championing

    That is very strange. It isn't the standard random check and must have been triggered by something. Will just have to wait and see what they say on the call now.

  • whistles
    whistles Online Community Member Posts: 2,074 Championing
    edited December 2025

    That's why I am worried because I haven't been on it six months yet.

    There isn't anything going in besides what they know about because they pay it. ESA NS and UC with rent element. They migrated me over so asked me to claim.

  • whistles
    whistles Online Community Member Posts: 2,074 Championing

    Case closed. I didn't tell them about account had closed, just that I was transferring benefit to the current account.

    Lady was really nice.

    All sorted.

    Just updating in case anyone else is getting a compliance call. It's just something flagged up that I had two accounts, I only said I had one when I applied, because I did.

    If anyone closes an account. Write and tell them you have closed it. Because it may flag up on their checks.

  • Jane315STARX
    Jane315STARX Online Community Member Posts: 1,037 Championing

    I hate this system so I completely understand where you are coming from.The stress and anxiety it causes is ridiculous