Undeclared Bank Account and Regular Transfers – UC Bank & ID Review

Hello,

My first ever post here, so please be kind! Sorry about the long post and thanks in advance for reading it. ** I also have ADHD**

I’m seeking guidance on an issue related to my Universal Credit (UC) claim, particularly about a second bank account I opened and some financial transactions. I’m worried about how the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) might interpret this during their review, and I’d appreciate advice from anyone with experience or insights.

The Background:

1. I’m a full-time carer for children with special needs, and my only income comes from Universal Credit, Disability Living Allowance (DLA), and Carer’s Allowance.
2. I’ve been receiving UC for a while, and my total capital has always stayed below the £6,000 threshold during every assessment period.
3. I opened a second bank account with the same bank some time ago. This account was dormant initially but is now used for managing funds.
4. I occasionally send money abroad to support close family members who rely on me financially.
5. I often transfer money between my two accounts before sending it abroad. My reasoning for opening the second account was to safeguard funds in case of scams or account hacking.
6. At the time of opening the second account, I didn’t realise I needed to report it to UC, as I assumed that only balances over £6,000 were relevant. I’ve since learned this might not be the case, and now I’m concerned about potential consequences.

The Issues:

1. The DWP has recently requested four months of bank statements for a review.
2. The transfers between my two accounts and the remittances abroad will show on the statements. There is no consistent pattern to these transactions (amounts vary month to month).

The Questions / Concerns:

1. Should I proactively submit statements for both accounts now or wait to see if the DWP asks for details about the transfers? The last 4 statements show one or two transfers, each month, paid into an unnamed account number, which is in fact my unreported account.
2. What potential issues might arise from not reporting the second account earlier?

Conclusion:

I’m very scared of losing UC as it’s the only thing keeping a roof over my children’s heads. If my UC were stopped, I would be left with no way to pay rent, and my children and I could become homeless. This thought is overwhelming and making me feel panicked, especially as I have no local support network to turn to. I’m trying my best to manage everything, but with my ADHD and the challenges of being a full-time carer, it feels like everything is piling up. God bless us all, and once again: thanks!