*HELP* what are they doing? Asking for ID/statements etc

Dear Scope,
I am overwhelmed and severely stressed. My employer recently paid me 3k because of health dismissal and I declared the income and capital. UC wanted bank statements and savings account...
Now they're asking for me to take a photo of myself with my passport in my hand next to my face..
What the hell?
Comments
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Hey @bluefox I'd try not to panic too much there, it sounds like the DWP are just making sure you are who you say you are. Asking for bank statements can sometimes happen too, just to make sure you're getting the right amount of benefits and you've not got too much in savings. I don't think it's anything nefarious. 😊
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They'll see things I've spent money on. I've heard they question people… is that something to worry about?
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Sounds like it's a review of your claim and yes for this they will ask for ID such as a passport/driving license with you holding it. They usually ask for about 4 months of bank statements too for this.
They may ask what you spent your money on, although if you have less than £6,000 in capital it's non of their business what you spend your money on.
If you've done nothing wrong then there's nothing to worry about.
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Several people here have been through these checks including myself.
One previous thread discussing them is here:
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I'm not really super worried but it's the DWP. They will probably highlight every penny in and out, including things on they may deem I've bought that aren't "essential"
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how did you get on with your claim as I am being revised too amd scared they will scrutinise everything on my statement
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Please see the comments on your thread here
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it's a standard review.
i went through a review last July, they didn't look at outgoings only money in. I think i got a 'good one', she didn't ask much apart from one question about £40 in and a paypal statement which i use to buy anyway never receive money in and it's paypal credit.
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Hi Danny and Bluefox, I'd try not to worry too much if you can. When they did my review they did look at outgoings. The sort of thing they look out for are things like partners you haven't declared (that they might detect from regular payments from your account) and big expensive items that you wouldn't really need, such as £100s for expensive jewellery, a new car, an undeclared second home etc. They saw in my bank account regular payments going to someone with my surname, they thought ahah! you've got a partner! But it was a family member buying food for me, so all ok. Income is scrutinised too, so eg they could find out if you're renting a room to someone or secretly earning a living on the side.
Having said all that, as long as you haven't done this sort of thing I don't think you've too much to worry about. If there's been something like you've given payments to a family member to help them out, try to explain why you did it if they ask you, eg they were desperate / had no money for food etc. As for the ID stuff, it's just a formality. They always check as they say there were multiple accounts set up for fraud during the pandemic when they didn't have face-to-face appointments and they're trying to weed these cases out now.
Let us know if you get any problems + best of luck
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This is an old thread from June 2024 so I'm sure that bluefox'x review has now been completed.
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