The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed 20 changes that Universal Credit claimants must report or risk having their benefit payments stopped and facing a £50 fine. Claimants and recipients of other benefits have been warned they could be penalized for not informing authorities of changes in circumstances.
Civil Penalty Details
Since October 2012, the DWP has had the authority to impose a £50 civil penalty on benefit claimants who received an overpayment due to failing to report a change. This penalty is added to the overpayment amount. Turn2Us, a charity, explains: “If you agree that you have been overpaid but you don’t think you should have been given a civil penalty you can challenge the decision.”
How to Challenge a Penalty
To challenge a civil penalty, you must first request a Mandatory Reconsideration within one month of the decision. You should explain why you believe the penalty should not apply. If the DWP does not change its decision, you can appeal to an Independent Tribunal. You have one month from the date of the DWP’s decision on your Mandatory Reconsideration request to appeal.
List of Changes to Report
Claimants must report the following changes:
- Changing your name or gender
- Finding or finishing a job, or working different hours
- Your income going up or down
- Starting or stopping education, training, or an apprenticeship
- Moving house
- People moving into or out of the place you live (e.g., partner, child, or lodger)
- The death of your partner or someone you live with
- Having a baby
- Starting or stopping caring for someone
- Getting married or divorced
- Starting or ending a civil partnership
- Planning to go abroad for any length of time
- Going into hospital, a care home, or sheltered accommodation
- Any changes to your medical condition or disability
- Changing your doctor
- Changes to your pension, savings, investments, or property
- Changes to other money you receive (e.g., student loans, grants, sick pay, or charity payments)
- Changes to the benefits you or anyone else in your household receives
- You or your partner receiving back-pay (arrears) for salary or earnings owed
- Changes to your immigration status, if you are not a British citizen
For more information on how to report a change in circumstances and when, visit the official gov.uk website.
