Universal Credit Frozen - no communication!

Fizzy80

I had to claim UC at the start of the first lock down. At the time I managed a property and declared this. My universal credit got cancelled in the summer as they then took into consideration the property. Later in the year I reapplied and did not declare the property as my partner took it over. Having received a few months of payments the advisor on my journal asked - 'what happened to the property you owned'. I explained that there had been a change of circumstances. Afterwards my March payment didn't come through. The advisor asked for documentation to prove I don't have capital in the property and no longer manage it - which I don't have due to the circumstances and it being a verbal agreement with my ex partner. No more communication or payments have been made. Everything has just been frozen. I'm wondering what I need to do next as I haven't received any information to say what exactly I need to do or the reason my benefit has been frozen. I need the money to look after my daughter who has a disability. Can someone advise on what the rules about not declaring something you don't own?   

Mrsn

I would perhaps post this on the benefits and tax credits forum as you might get a quicker response (I know some of them do also look on this part of the forum)

I suspect the reason you have had no payment is down to the fact the property is being taken into consideration. You will need to speak to UC to get this sorted ASAP in order for future assessment periods to be unaffected.

poppy12345

Does/did the property belong to you or any part of it? Above you mention your partner took it over and then in another sentence you mention your ex partner took it over.

You can't just givecapital away because this will be seen as deprivation of capital and therefore you will still be classed as having it.

sheramber

  

Whose name is on the land registry as the owner of the property?

What documents do you have that your ex partner has taken over the property.

UC need to establish that this is not   a  convenient / contrived arrangement to allow you to claim UC.

macman

You don't have capital in the property? Or you don't have documentation to prove that you don't?
Your post is very vague: if you did have an interest in the property, you can't relinquish it, or the income from it, just on the basis of a 'verbal agreement'. Yet you say that you 'don't own it'.
It has been explained to you what you need to do: you need to supply the paperwork to demonstrate that you no longer own it or benefit from it.

HampshireH

I read this that the OP owned the property but it is let out. Otherwise the management of it would be a regular job. 

The income was going to the OP as they were managing it but they have re-diverted that income to the partner /expartner to receive UC - depriving them of this income.

OP do you own this property or was it a job you were doing for someone else 

If you own it do you have an interest only mortgage? If so how are you paying it?

 If it was a job and you no longer have any interest in the property get the employer to confirm in writing you are no longer employed.

Fizzy80

HampshireH said:

I read this that the OP owned the property but it is let out. Otherwise the management of it would be a regular job. 

The income was going to the OP as they were managing it but they have re-diverted that income to the partner /expartner to receive UC - depriving them of this income.

OP do you own this property or was it a job you were doing for someone else 

If you own it do you have an interest only mortgage? If so how are you paying it?

 If it was a job and you no longer have any interest in the property get the employer to confirm in writing you are no longer employed.

Me and my partner owed the property. I rented it out and managed it. Because we are no longer together and he had capital in the property he now owns and manages it. I did no contest this as he has the capital in the property and I'm staying in our other house. What evidence can I show to prove this?

poppy12345

Is the property still in your name? You can't just give it away and expect to claim UC. If there's equity in it and it exceeds £16,000 then you'll be excluded from claiming all means tested benefits. Just giving it away to your ex will be seen as deprivation of capital and you should have declared the property when you first claimed. Any over payment of UC will need to be repaid back.

Fizzy80

Thanks for the comments. I have explained a couple of points above. Two questions - 1 - is the only way to get my ex partner put his name on the deeds to prove I no longer own the property. 2 - should UC not write to me to give me a solid reason as to why my benefit has been frozen?

Fizzy80

poppy12345 said:

Is the property still in your name? You can't just give it away and expect to claim UC. If there's equity in it and it exceeds £16,000 then you'll be excluded from claiming all means tested benefits. Just giving it away to your ex will be seen as deprivation of capital and you should have declared the property when you first claimed. Any over payment of UC will need to be repaid back.

I'm not sure how I can prove that I don't have capital in the property. Would it be be classed as giving away the property if the capital in the property is my partners?

poppy12345

Why does the capital belong to your partner? You previously claimed UC last year but the claim ended because of the house. If you jointly own the house then any capital in it will be shared 50/50 for means tested benefits.