Universal credit underpayment?

jmouse1

I wonder if Universal Credits have made a mistake? 
Since our initial appointment to claim Universal Credits, we were advised that the child maintenance I receive each month for one child - through a verbal agreement- is counted as 'other income'. Therefore, each month this amount of money is deducted automatically when making the final payment amount. The total we receive varies each month as partner is self employed. 
I have just read that child maintenance payments do not affect benefits. Is this correct? Have they made a mistake and underpaid us for over a year? Would they correct the mistake? 
Thank you! 
 

poppy12345

Child maintenance is disregarded. I'm wondering if they are counting it as spousal maintenance? as this would reduce it £1 for £1. Is your UC being reduced £1 for £1?

jmouse1

Thanks for the reply poppy12345. I've never been married. I remember the initial appointment telling them I receive the child maintenance. The lady checked with a colleague if that would be taken in account and her colleague said yes..I thought at the time that was unfair but never questioned it. I have put a note on the online journal querying it and screen shotted every statement for the last 18 months which shows that amount deducted. 

calcotti

Child maintenance should not be taken into account.

jmouse1

Thanks for replies. I wonder if they would backdate the mistake since they put it on the system at the beginning...I suspect not but will try. 

huckster

Just send a journal note to the Case Manager querying this.  Just say that the report other income is incorrectly being applied to the claim.  Explain what you have said in your posts above.   They will take the other income off the claim from the date it was added and an underpayment refund amount will be calculated for them to pay.

mellyc

When income is declared but incorrectly and universal credit then underpaid me how does this get rectified and when is the money owed paid to us??

NedS

mellyc said:

When income is declared but incorrectly and universal credit then underpaid me how does this get rectified and when is the money owed paid to us??

In future it would be best if you could start your own new post rather than jumping in on someone else's post

You will have to raise and RTI (Real Time Information) dispute with UC. You will need a copy of your payslip and bank account showing the actual payment you received. UC will collect this information from you and send the dispute to HMRC who will attempt to contact your employer to resolve the issue. How long it takes depends on the evidence you are able to provide and whether HMRC are able to get a satisfactory response from the employer. Not suggesting it is the case here, but in the vast majority of cases there has been no mistake and it is the customer not fully understanding how the system works, but without details it's impossible for us to say here. You can see your own RTI information if you have an online tax account with HMRC.