The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a stark warning to Universal Credit claimants: failing to report certain changes in circumstances could result in a £50 penalty, sanctions, or even prosecution for benefit fraud. Around 8.4 million people across Scotland, England, and Wales receive Universal Credit, and the DWP lists 17 specific life events that must be reported as soon as possible.
Changes that affect entitlement include starting or ending a job, changes in income, moving house, having a baby, or getting married. Claimants who do not report these changes risk receiving incorrect payments, which could lead to overpayments that must be repaid or underpayments that may be backdated. The DWP warns that failing to report can be treated as benefit fraud, a criminal offence.
Turn2Us, a charity, advises anyone who has failed to report changes to seek expert advice immediately. The DWP states: 'You could be taken to court or have to pay a penalty if you give wrong information or do not report a change in your circumstances.' Changes can be reported online via the claimant's Universal Credit account.
Claimants are urged to report changes promptly, as they affect payments for the entire assessment period, not just from the date of reporting. The DWP emphasises that even unintentional errors can lead to financial penalties or legal action.
