A benefits claimant has revealed their Universal Credit payments were abruptly stopped by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) due to what they describe as a major administrative error concerning their savings.
The Disputed Savings Claim
The individual, who first began claiming Universal Credit in 2021, stated they initially declared savings of £6,000. They insist they consistently updated the DWP on their financial situation and never came close to the £16,000 capital threshold that disqualifies individuals from receiving the benefit.
Despite this, their claim was terminated after a lengthy review process. The DWP concluded the claimant possessed over £16,000 from the very start of their claim, a figure the claimant vehemently denies. "I have never had £16,000 in my life," they stated.
A Year-Long Review and Alleged Lost Evidence
The issue came to a head during a standard review. The claimant was asked to provide bank statements dating back to the beginning of their claim in 2021. In November 2024, they submitted statements for both their current account and their ISA.
According to the claimant, the DWP later messaged them saying the ISA statements had not been received, suggesting they were "probably got lost in the post." The documents were sent a second time, after which the claimant heard nothing and assumed the matter was resolved.
The process stretched over a year, with the DWP later requesting statements for a Help to Save account, which were also provided. The final decision, however, cited a "lack of evidence" as the reason for believing the £16,000 threshold had been breached, leading to the termination of their Universal Credit.
Seeking Redress and Community Advice
Frustrated and seeking help, the claimant turned to an online forum to share their experience and ask if others had faced similar problems. They have now officially requested a mandatory reconsideration of the decision.
Fellow users offered practical advice, including:
- Formally asking the DWP for a full breakdown of how they calculated the £16,000 figure.
- Gathering and resubmitting all bank statements for every month of the claim.
- Contacting their local MP for assistance in escalating the case.
One commenter highlighted a critical lesson for all claimants: "Upload it. Don't send it. That's where things go wrong... never post it. For some reason, the post is going walk about." This underscores the importance of using the online journal system for documentation to ensure a verifiable record.
Another user expressed a common sentiment regarding such DWP errors, noting, "It’s scary the way they get things wrong like this, and they never apologise and give compensation despite the suffering it’s caused."
