Very worried about Universal Credit

Sweetpumpkin

We have been claiming universal credit for 6 years.  In June 2023 my husband received a pension payment of £9,000.  Most of it went to pay off debts.  Then in March this year he received a payment of £8,000 from his dad’s inheritance.  We stupidly didn’t report either of these sums as we naively thought that we didn’t have to as by paying the debts off we would be under £6,000.   Universal Credit are now wanting to conduct a routine review and have asked us to supply 4 months bank statements which don’t include any savings.  It was searching about what happens in a review that has alerted me to the fact that savings over £6,000 have to be declared so I am now worried about the two lump sum payments that my husband received that weren’t declared at the time.  I am now worried sick and think we will be prosecuted for fraud and have to go to prison.  It wasn’t intentional but realise we have made a huge mistake.   I just don’t know the best way forward now.  I have multiple sclerosis and in very poor health mentally and physically. I can’t see any way out of this and am petrified of the repercussions that I feel like life is not worth living any more

Brie

if the first payment paid off debts then it's not like it was savings at any point.  you owed money, you paid it off.  Job done.  Nowt to worry about there.

What happened with the £8k?  Did it catch up on some other things owing thus bringing you down below £6k?  If so, no worries.  If enough remained to keep you in that in between state then they'll do a recalculate of what you should have been paid versus what you were paid and you'll have to repay the difference. 

They won't be putting anyone in jail for such a minor sum.  I do believe you are allowed some leeway with inheritances but someone will be able to confirm that.  Take a deep breath and think about some of the good things in your life instead of worrying about something that hasn't happened.  (easy for me to say, I know)