Universal Credit, a vital financial support for approximately 8.4 million people in Scotland, England, and Wales, requires claimants to report 17 specific changes in circumstances to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Failure to do so promptly could result in sanctions, debt, or even benefit fraud charges, which is a criminal offence.
These life events, known as changes of circumstances, can affect the amount of Universal Credit a person is entitled to. Delaying a report may lead to overpayments or underpayments. The DWP warns that changes can impact payments for the entire assessment period, not just from the date reported.
Turn2Us advises anyone facing issues due to unreported changes to seek expert advice immediately. Overpayments must be repaid, while underpayments may result in a lump sum back payment from the DWP, potentially affecting means-tested benefits.
Claimants can report changes online by signing into their Universal Credit account. The DWP stresses that giving wrong information or failing to report changes could lead to court action or penalties.
