UC Decision Maker

Jen87
Jen87 Community Member Posts: 12 Connected
in Universal Credit (UC)

Hello,

Would love just a bit of advice carrying on from a previous issue

- I’m currently in the process of trying to get a disregard as capital for a large backpayment from UC under regulation 10a, the arrears built up after I notified UC of my caring responsibilities but they failed to apply the carers element for 4 years. I finally received the arrears in 2023, I had a review 18 months later and the backpayment was disregarded. However during another standard review in January, they proceeded to apply the standard 52 week disregard rule even though I received the arrears due to an error or their behalf and it was over £5,000 -

In March I requested a DM to look into my case so that they could hopefully apply the disregard properly. I didn’t hear anything for a few months, so while I waited I asked for my local MP to chase it up and also got some advice from citizens advice who echoed the regulation and recommended I wait and then ask for a MR.

Meanwhile I finally heard back from the DM who requested 2 years worth of statements alongside what they already had from my previous review. I had a phone call from the DM yesterday and honestly since then I’ve been in a bit of a state. She was polite enough but asked me so many questions of transactions in and out of my account from 2 years ago, and as I didn’t realise the call was going to be about this I was not prepared and didn’t even remember half of the in going’s or outgoings. I’m pretty sure I confused a few family accounts up too in hindsight as some of us have the same initials and surnames. So now I’m super worried about that also.

after the phonecall she left a message on my journal thanking me for the phonecall and asked for another 4 months worth of statements going even further back to around 8 months after I recieved the arrears. 

I’ve sent those off but I’m just so confused and a little bit shaken. I thought my escalating this issue was more to do with correcting the arrears as being disregarded, and less to do with going through years of my expenditure. I have a large family and we transfer money to each other so regularly to cover basic living costs.

I’m just wondering is this a normal Decision Maker review and what I can expect going forward. Like I said before, this whole issue started with me being underpaid from 2018 - 2023, and when they finally corrected and awarded the arrears, it’s been nothing but stress trying to explain the extra money to the same people over and over again. It just feels like years of never ending struggle, I’m starting to spiral and just want it all to come to an end now :(


thanks

Comments

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Community Member Posts: 6,270 Championing

    Hi,

    This is normal process unfortunately. They need to check that you haven't spent the money so far. Although the backpay is disregarded indefinitely, it's only disregarded until it's been spent once.

    Asking about family transactions is a grey area for this though. Because you are allowed to do whatever you want with backpay. Deprivation of Capital doesn't apply to that, but will still apply to any savings you had before the backpay. It will be difficult to calculate from their side and I'm not 100% sure how they'll work that out.

  • Jen87
    Jen87 Community Member Posts: 12 Connected

    thank you for your responses, do you think I’m getting close to getting an outcome now. I had the telephone call on Monday and sent over the additional statements yesterday. I just feel like my whole life is on hold and won’t resume until I have a decision whether it’s in my favour or not :(

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