Pet insurance and pet food expenses on universal credit

Spywouk83

Hello newbie here , my partner and I are in a legacy benefit and will be changing over to uc when they say but I’m worried on how they will see a debt of 107 per month for pet insurance and bills for pet food as he eats better than us! He’s a 20 year old fur baby with multiple condition who is our emotional support and our world. How will they view this as it’s as essential household bill ?

KxMx

You'll only be asked to provide bank statements if at the time of migration you have over £6k in capital.
After your claim is live you might be selected for a financial check, where you would have to provide statements. 
Pets are a normal household expense and I doubt they would look twice at it. 

Spoonie_Turtle

They have no basis for questioning your outgoings (although when they do reviews I have heard of them asking about random transactions*) but even if they were to do so, it would have no effect on your UC entitlement.

*It has occurred to me maybe it has a practical purpose in the review process, perhaps to establish that the claimant definitely uses the accounts for which they've submitted statements and know what's going in and out.  Rather than questioning for passing judgement (even though that's what it probably feels like).

Muttleythefrog

Spywouk83 said:

Hello newbie here , my partner and I are in a legacy benefit and will be changing over to uc when they say but I’m worried on how they will see a debt of 107 per month for pet insurance and bills for pet food as he eats better than us! He’s a 20 year old fur baby with multiple condition who is our emotional support and our world. How will they view this as it’s as essential household bill ?

They won't be interested... buying a £10k tiger they might be! In theory they may query what the payments in a review etc and I would just tell them. They're perfectly reasonable household expenses.

FlorayG

I was unemployed in the 1970's and had a friend who worked for the benefits office. She told me to never let them know I had a pony because they would force me to sell him. I'm pleased to say those days are long gone - you can smoke or drink your UC or keep a pet with it so don't worry

Murphybear

FlorayG said:

I was unemployed in the 1970's and had a friend who worked for the benefits office. She told me to never let them know I had a pony because they would force me to sell him. I'm pleased to say those days are long gone - you can smoke or drink your UC or keep a pet with it so don't worry

The Government has always said you can spend your benefits on whatever you like.  It’s got nothing to do with them.  Apart from housing benefits of course. D

Murphybear

Muttleythefrog said:

Spywouk83 said:

Hello newbie here , my partner and I are in a legacy benefit and will be changing over to uc when they say but I’m worried on how they will see a debt of 107 per month for pet insurance and bills for pet food as he eats better than us! He’s a 20 year old fur baby with multiple condition who is our emotional support and our world. How will they view this as it’s as essential household bill ?

They won't be interested... buying a £10k tiger they might be! In theory they may query what the payments in a review etc and I would just tell them. They're perfectly reasonable household expenses.

Fortunately for tigers there is a long list of rules in the U.K. about buying/keeping them