UC Review

Hi

I recently got a message (see below) telling me that my Universal Credit claim was to be reviewed. I was required to upload copies of identity documents, bank statements etc. I did this without thinking about it, because I have nothing to hide, but in the subsequent telephone interview the official asked me details of various payments - £25 to my sister for shopping, £50 to a tai-chi teacher for a class, etc.

On reflection, this seems deeply invasive. Is the DWP entitled to demand all this personal information?

I wasn't asked about my health. FWIW I have Parkinson's and am in the LCW group, after winning a tribunal appeal (with much help from Benefits & Work!). I am awaiting the outcome of the DWP's review.

Below I will try to paste the DWP's initial message.

Best wishes

Mark
________________

Hi Mark,

We are reviewing your Universal Credit claim to make sure your payments are correct.

As part of the review, we are creating to-dos for you to complete.

These to-dos must be completed by 15/05/2024 or your Universal Credit payments will be affected.

These to-dos are called:

Claim Review: provide bank statements.
Claim Review: upload document.

You will be asked to provide:

bank statements and an identity document

Each to-do includes instructions and a completion date.

If you do not complete these to-dos, then either:

• your payment could be stopped and then your claim might be closed
• part of your payment could be removed

We may also ask for more information and documents. You will receive a separate message about this.

Send us a journal message if you want to discuss the review or you need help with your to-dos.

Many thanks

Just to say I'm going through the exact same thing at the moment, and have the utmost solidarity for you. It sucks, and it's invasive, but they have the right unfortunately. Hopefully they leave us both alone for a good while now!

I very recently had my UC review and it is definitely an experience that fills you with dread. Mark, rightly notes how the process is carried out in his message. Thank you for this Mark. On this forum someone wrote down the questions that they were asked in their UC review and I found this very helpful so I thought that I would do the same to help others. The questions that I was asked was a lot different that the questions that this person had shared.

Firstly, I was told that the call for my appointment was being recorded. I asked for a copy of this recording. I was told that this recording is not shared with the claimant [who is me] as it is only used for internal reasons only. At the end of the call, I was told that if I have lied or given mis-information in any way about my claim that I will be prosecuted. I did not lie about anything at all as I have nothing to hide. From the offset of my call I asked the UC Advisor to make sure that they speak slowly and do not rush any of the questions and information by the way.

The problem with the recording not being shared is that my memory is not all too good, so if this recording will be used by DWP at any point against myself I am already dis-advantaged, as I will not remember the answers that I gave in my appointment with the UC advisor. After my appointment, upon the advice of an independent benefits advisor who helped me to prepare for my UC review they said that I should make a note about why I asked for the recording of my appointment on my journal to cover myself and add a very vague line about the difficulties that I have with my memory. So if they use the recording against me in anyway I am covered by the note in my journal.

I was asked to confirm the providers of my utility and goods services. The question was phrased as "there is the figure [they mention] on your bank statement on this date [they state the date], can you please confirm if this is for the use of gas, use of electricity and or both". I was asked to confirm this information for my mobile bill, my internet bill, my rent, my tv services and the provider for home insurance and to confirm an amount that I had spent on my credit card.

They then ran through a long lists of financial products very quickly, so it was extremely hard to capture what the financial products were. Not that I have any financial products either though. The fact that they were said the list quickly filled me with fright though, because I have said no to all of them. I feel for other claimants who find themselves in my position this maybe a problem: - what if you have a financial product and the UC advisor speaks too quickly that you do not capture the name of the financial product and you answer no. No doubt that DWP will deem your answer as a lie and your UC claim will be stopped in the worst case scenario and or you will be sanctioned somehow by DWP.

I was then asked who I pay my rent too - the council, housing association and or private landlord and how this payment is made. I was asked whether I pay council tax or not. I was then asked directly whether I have any savings and to confirm who else lives in my home with me. Finally I was asked for the balance in my bank account at the day of my UC Review.

I am so glad that I had hardcopies of my bank statements printed out ahead of my appointment and I would suggest that you have the latest hardcopy of your council tax bill and or letter at hand. Finally, I would suggest that before the appointment that you go over all 4 months of the bank statements and make notes of any transactions that have been made to any goods and service providers including the why such as: the money into your bank account was because of a complaint and or repair with the goods and services provider.

At the end of the appointment the UC advisor asked if I had any questions and then said if there are any further actions that they will add them to my To do list on my UC account. I was told at the end of my appointment that my UC review had been completed and there has been no change of circumstances including gaining employment so my claim is seen as up-to-date and no changes needed.

No questions about my health were asked or if I had an alternative bank account. I only mention the alternative bank account, as funds from DWP for another reason go into this bank account.

I hope this information helps yourselves waiting for the UC Review. Thanks