Claim Review - Universal Credit/Housing Services Charge 2024 - Telephone Interview and Outcomes

Maia1111

Hi 

I could not find a thread to this effect, sorry if it has been discussed to this detail elsewhere, Anxiety is through the roof after this phone call. 

Recently I was advised I have a Claim Review. So i instantly provided my bank statements for both bank accounts i use. I am ungainfully self employed and also search for employment. So i do earn but not enough. I also pay services charges and i understand that i should not have been earning money for 9 months before i can claim for the housing component that pays towards services charges. 

I managed to get this extra component in Oct 2023. Today i had my claim interview over the phone, i have nothing to hide and have been forthcoming in my correspondence communication and all that they require. 

However i am not well versed with certain aspects of Universal Credit. For instance i had to begin claiming because of the loss of my little brother in Feb 2022, and also my mum in 2018. So have been on Universal Credit itself for sometime. 

Its very clear in my bank statements that I am experiencing financial hardship and really struggle to pay my bills and mortgage. 

When the lady called me today 13 May 2024) i answered all of her questions, and one question that came up was i notice that you have a mortgage amount that comes out but you also have a rent payment from universal credit (she meant the housing component towards my service charges), 'can you tell me a bit more because i am a little confused about what is happening here?' so i happily explained that the mortgage payment comes out on the same day as my universal credit but because i am constantly overdrawn it just sucks it out however she did not ask me about the housing component and what happens with it (As i receive a small amount towards service charges, but the rest is just universal credit for job seekers allowance, and my understanding is the universal credit itself i can use as i please). 

Before i put the phone down she said she needs to read a script and she went onto read something to the effect of 'If we don't hear from you we can stop your benefits, you may have to pay a financial penalty and you could get prosecuted'  even though i was so honest, it all got a little serious and prior to this we had really good rapport, but she said it and she just said ok bye. 

I obviously started to freak out and wonder have i said too much have i missed something here. She has requested my paypal statements too, which i have provided to her almost within an hour. 

I actually am not worried if they stop the benefits, what i am worried about is because i am not well versed with some aspects of the benefits and i have also not had many coaches support me from the jobcentre, so i just have been continuing the way i have for so long what i would not want a financial penalty or to be prosecuted for that matter!!!! 

I am in the process in receiving a project that could provide me with the opportunity to come off universal credit altogether but its taking so long to come through. So my questions are the following if anyone has any experience of this 

1,  I have been forthcoming with everything they want, I have nothing to hide, but what if they find something that I has been an unintentional oversight on my part?

2. I note that she did not ask about the housing component in detail and what happens with that money, she just asked about what happens with UC payment and my mortgage. 

3. If I do receive this offer from this project, do they still have to continue their investigations if i came off universal credit? 

4. My coaches from the past are absolutely aware of how my universal credit is used as it has come up in conversations, and they have never corrected or advised otherwise. 

My anxiety is through the roof, and I am so scared of what will happen, i was fine until she read the whole financial statement and prosecution statement out


Any other advice is welcome, 

HillStreetBlues

The script was if you didn't provide the information they  were requesting  and it sounds like you have supplied the info.

I know it's easy to say, but try not to worry it's just a standard script, it has no inference of wrong doing.

pmlindyloo

I am wondering if this is about the service charge being paid whilst the OP is earning?

Is this a shared ownership property where rent and service charge is paid or a mortgaged property with service charges?

The relevant legislation is here:

ADM Chapter F4: Support for owner occupiers (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Maia1111

@HillStreetBlues i hope so

@pmlindyloo I do not have shared ownership, i own the flat and pay mortgage on it. My service charges are separate via my managing agent which i agreed to pay monthly. I did not understand the term 'OP' 

Maia1111

I think I am querying the fact that my mortgage comes out on the same day as my UC is paid, and i am always in overdraft so regardless the money gets sucked up everywhere there are bills coming out daily, and it just so happens that my mortgage comes out on the same day of the UC being paid. So when the call finished I thought about it. As i do my monthly service charges but that comes out on a different date and because my service charges are in dispute only half the amount goes to them the rest just gets eaten by my overdraft, but because i am overdrawn its not like i can separate the 2 amounts. I might be overthinking it all, but i was worried because she didn't ask me much about my service charges, she thought that i was receiving a housing component for rent but i clarified i have a mortgage and that is clear in my statements. 

I may also be able to come off UC soon if i get offered this project. Does anyone know if i still have not received a decision whether they can continue investigation or does it stop. The project was meant to be offered to me in March 2024, but it got delayed and now i am at final stage of and i could have something by end of May 2024. 

I am seeking reassurance and my rights as someone who is claiming benefits as opposed to fearmongering please. 

Spoonie_Turtle

What you use your UC money for is of no concern to them.  The timing of payments into and out of your bank account are irrelevant.

It sounds like the main thing they want to confirm is whether your service charges are … I can't think of the word … whether your service charges qualify for the housing element or not.  And whether the amount of housing element you get is correct for any service charges that do qualify.
That will be down to the exact nature of them and I'm afraid I don't have brain power to find info on that for you.  Others will be able to.

Have you looked at the link pmlindyloo posted?

Maia1111

I am reading through the info that @pmlindyloo has sent. 

If anyone knows, what are the steps or outcomes to expect in such scenarios during a claim review?  For instance i assume if they believe i am not entitled then i imagine they would just stop the housing component for my service charges? If they query why i am only paying £50 and not the total amount of the service charges i qualified for towards service charges (Which i have made clear that i am in dispute with the managing agent, they will be paid, just not until this legal dispute is complete, which has come to light in the last several months). I just want to be prepared for all outcomes, i am experiencing financial vulnerabilities and that is evident throughout my statements trying to make ends meet. So i do not want to be hit with a financial penalty or anything else of a serious nature. Again i do not believe i will, i think its because i am contending with other factors with similar financial disputes which are of serious concern, so my emotional capacity is at its fullest. 

thank you in advance 

Maia1111

Thank you @Spoonie_Turtle btw 

Muttleythefrog

This sounds quite normal..... and they will often ask questions that they wish to to understand bank statements - in your case you have a mortgage and claim for service charges.... perfectly normal if you own your own leasehold property although as I've recently discovered they can be inconsistent in their determination of what service charges (for example possibly not building insurance) they'll consider. But perhaps they wanted to understand that as maybe they had in mind you might have another property than what you live in or maybe they think your circumstances mean you do not qualify for it. They ask other claimants about transactions that perk their interest and like for us you were requested to supply paypal statements after telling them you had such an account.

You've been honest... the disclaimer they read is normal and was read to me and my wife last week during our own U/C review which has now completed.

Normally after review is complete and requested documents supplied they'll say in journal that review is complete and benefit remains unchanged. If they determine overpayments etc or need for correction that will be addressed.

I sense your anxiety but try not to worry... as long as you are giving them accurate information that's that. If you are concerned they are not paying the appropriate amount for service charges then give full details in the thread for people to look at... in particular anything they are excluding as charges from their calculation of what they will pay you in the housing element... my brain is a bit frazzled today so can't clarify entitlement to service charges with your work situation. 

Maia1111

Thank you everyone, your advice went a long way and helped me so much in alleviating my anxiety. This morning i received a message stating that the review is complete and my Universal Credit remains unchanged. Thank you again and i hope that this thread helps someone else.