In so much trouble

elsien

are you getting any help for your anxiety and overthinking?

Lowlifeloser

hi yes im on anti depressants. Have been on them on and off for years.

Just want to know the consequences of my actions really, and my gf has no idea of what i have done.

And its a joint claim so she is involved, which makes me feel horrendous. The thought of her being took to court knocks me sick.

NedS

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82077452#Comment_82077452

As I understand it, you (as a couple) were at or near your £6k capital threshold on UC.

You then sold your car for around £7k, taking you over the £6k threshold, but spent that money fairly quickly (within one month?)

Therefore, absolute worst case scenario, if we round everything up, you may have had an overpayment of UC in the order of £120 per month for each month you still had the £7k, which you can either repay or can be deducted from future UC payments.

As long as you are upfront about this mistake with UC, you will not get in any trouble for such a small amount. You will be required to repay any overpayment. At worst, they can issue you a £50 civil penalty for failing to declare the £7k when you received it.

Lowlifeloser

Thanks for the comment mate.
Whats worrying me most mate is cancelling the account, it look really bad. Im very impulsive. A part me cancelling is i owe a-lot of money to the bank so why a cancelled so the debt team could not see my transactions.

Lowlifeloser

How do i prove i spent it on gambling thats the problem, most of it was at the races and bookies.

peteuk

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82077586#Comment_82077586

People move bank accounts for various reasons and UC are aware of this. You could be surfing the accounts for signup bonuses. You could be moving 2 accounts to 1. UC don't care about it, unless there is £XXK in it on the day of closure, and that is withdrawn and then money hidden. If you take £50 out per day, then that's your business. If payments are to Tesco, Esso, Harbour fish shop and the money is obviously not hidden in a shoe box under your bed then they don't care.

UC do periodic checks - to ensure compliance.

For example If you were over the £6K threshold then you would have had a reduction of £4.35 per £250.00 or part there of. Which works out at £17.40 per £1K over per payment. So if you were at £8K in Feb that's £34.80 you owe, if at then end of Mar its down to £7K then that's £17.40 you may owe. Come April if your under £6K there's no reduction.

I would say that there is absolutely nothing you can do now other than provide them with what they have requested, and await their decision. Once this is known there are things that can be done to assist with any payback required.

Easier said then done but your wasting time and energy on something that is out of your control, worry about what is in your control.

Lowlifeloser

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82077614#Comment_82077614

thank you mate im trying not to think about it

But its on my mind 247. But thats what i did i withdrew all the money and 80% of it stupidly spent gambling over a months period and then i cancelled the account because i owe money to my bank. How do i prove this when the account is closed thats the problem.

Muttleythefrog

Agree with advice given.. but you absolutely should be open and honest with your girlfriend especially given she is a joint claimant…. we're not here to give relationship advice but dishonesty or similar will make management of that relationship difficult while advice on how to deal with UC is given. Overthinking is a problem I know well… but you're not going to be in serious trouble… forget courts and jails… it's more your partner I'd worry about facing. Bear in mind partners can often overthink too… if she sees lies or deception regarding your joint UC claim and finances… what else are you hiding she may ponder. Be up front.

Definitely try to seek help for gambling or what you think triggered this episode of such.

Lowlifeloser

Your right. A dont fink she understands how bad my gambling has been in the past. I been doing this for years now on and off. A try not to overthink but it looks really bad as i have said withdrawing lots off cash and gambling it away. Then cancelling the account. How do i even prove i dont have this money.

Muttleythefrog

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82077775#Comment_82077775

Difficult to absolutely prove you don't have the money ultimately as it could be cash hidden under a mattress for all the DWP know. You should be able to prove you don't have in within your bank accounts (be they open or closed as banks hold statements for years and you may still have online access anyway) and you may have kept paperwork in relation to the gambles which could show the spending. I remain of the view you should worry more about your relationship… two of the biggest causes of breakdown of such are money issues and dishonesty…. you're red flagging both and so I think you need to be very open and honest with them as joint claimant and partner you live with. Remember too at the end of the day a relationship is about supporting and helping each other… nobody is perfect.

The UC issue is not exactly straightforward if they do look at the money spent… but it's not significant… at most you'll have a very small amount to repay in overpayment (likely less than the repayment I've just made for UC making a calculation error as they did for many thousands in April)… this isn't some long standing fraud of vast amounts of benefits… and if you spent any savings that went over £6k within the same assessment period you got money for the car you owe nothing but they may well enquire what the heck happened to the cash withdrawn… be honest. Gambling is not a crime (although betting on England to win a World Cup should be!)… but you really do need to address the problem.