UC review request

Beth7
Beth7 Community Member Posts: 2 Listener
in Universal Credit (UC)

Hi everyone, looking for some advice on a Targeted Case Review situation.

Long story short: My UC automated system had a glitch where it incorrectly flagged me as self-employed back in June. At that time, I was strictly unemployed, actively job-seeking, and logging all my applications in my journal and engaged with work coach.

In August, my Work Coach verified my self employment over the phone, and confirmed in journal later this that (the system had generated income/expenditure entries based on my old employment end date, rather than my actual self-employment), and he said he has deleted the incorrect entries and now from August I can update self employment income. My official self-employment didn't actually start until late August, which is correctly registered on my file.

However, in late October, a Targeted Case Review was opened on my account, specifically demanding a "Self-Employed Income and Expenses Review for June." I told them about the August correction, but the review agent is being adamant that the system still showed it as a self-employed claim back then.

I am completely uncomfortable uploading my bank statements for June. I had friends and family helping me out financially during that tough month, and I absolutely dread having to over-explain every personal transaction to a strict reviewer over a mistake their own system made.

Also, my self-employment has taken off and I have secured some good contracts. Combined with my partner’s income, we are now over the threshold anyway and I want to end our Universal Credit claim completely.


My questions are:

  1. If I voluntarily close/withdraw my UC claim right now will it automatically cancel this open review?
  2. Since my Work Coach already logged and corrected the system glitch in August, am I safe from them trying to generate a fake "overpayment debt" for June if I walk away now?

Would love to hear from anyone who has closed a claim during an active review it is really giving me anxiety when I am not too well already.

Comments

  • Anhedonia2
    Anhedonia2 Community Member Posts: 504 Empowering

    I don't know the definite answer to be honest but I don't think it would close or cancel the review, if they are requesting statements you'd need to give them either way as you still received the money at that time. Even if you're no longer claiming they can still ask for proof you were eligible for a time that you were.

    They can ask for statements of evidence from months or even years ago, even from people who haven't claimed in ages. Honestly closing it right now would just look suspicious in my opinion.

    I'm pretty sure gifts from friends or family are allowed, they've never questioned me getting them

  • Beth7
    Beth7 Community Member Posts: 2 Listener

    I wasn’t even self employed that time and it’s their own system error and I am getting penalised. I suffer with anxiety and they asking a whole lot of statements from all accounts under my name plus credit cards too and then go through the transactions will add so much anxiety. Also, they stated if they do not get the required information I will lose payments and claim may close so looks like they will do pretty much same, I am confused which option is better close voluntarily or let it get closed.

  • Anhedonia2
    Anhedonia2 Community Member Posts: 504 Empowering

    I'm pretty sure they can't ask for credit card statements?

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Community Member Posts: 6,505 Championing

    Agreed, they shouldn't be asking for credit card statements for a normal income or capital review. (Unless they have a very specific reason to do so?)

    Closing the claim doesn't stop an overpayment debt. And I wouldn't rely on an agent 'correcting' anything from the past. The system doesn't appear to be setup to accept simple corrections. It's entirely possibly that they only made a partial correction at the time.

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