big scary phonecall, Child maintanence and UC

Hi I was just looking for a wee bit of advice please? I received a message on my UC journal saying that I am going to be recieving a telephone interview from DWP on the 17th of October, between 9am and 9:30am. They said I must be available because if they cannot reach me then my uc would be cancelled (jeez why do they have to be so threatening)

Anyhoo they said it was to check my benefits are correct and to check I have updated them with any changes, but I don't trust them at all so who knows what they are going to say in this 'telephone interview'.

My ex-partner moved out a few months ago and he has being paying some money into my bank account, however this is money he owed me from when we were living together as he is back working. It hasn't been regular payments, he has just been trying to clear what he still owes me. My question is do you think this telephone call is about my x-partner paying money into my bank? Can the DWP just access your bank when ever they want without telling you? I have just recently found out that any child maintance payments will be deducted from your UC, as the rules are different from child tax credits. Would the DWP deduct any money paid into your account, even if it wasn't child maintance payments, would i have to provide proof it was money owed? OMG i think my mind ir running over time about this phonecall but they make you paranoid over everything.

Oh just one more thing, if my ex-partner just bought things for our kids instead of paying money into my account, would that be an issue with UC? Is it only money being paid into you bank thay would deduct, what would be their view on child maintance being paid cash?


Any advice would be gratefully appreciated, thanks

Hi thanks for your advice and very quick reply, the only proof I have that I loaned my ex-partner some cash is that I paid it direct into his bank account, would that be enough if they request proof? Thanks, Layla

Yes he would, so if that is what the phone call is about, then hopefully bank statements and written confirmation should be enough, although this is the DWP so they want that letter written in blood lol.


Thanks so much for your advice, ill let you know how it goes