The Department for Work and Pensions has issued a warning to anyone who has undergone 16 life changes in the past few months. The DWP is warning people who claim benefits to come forward and report 16 big changes in circumstances.
The DWP has issued a warning to all those claiming Universal Credit, with a list of 16 different things that must be reported. You must report these changes “as soon as they happen”, as any delay “may mean you receive too much money and will have to make a repayment”.
The DWP states: “You could be taken to court or have to pay a penalty if you give wrong information or do not report a change in your circumstances.” The changes you need to report include finding a job, finishing a job, having a child and moving in with your partner.
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The DWP adds other changes include starting to care for a child, starting to care for disabled person, changing your mobile number, changing your email address, moving to a new address and changing your bank details as well as your rent going up or down, changes to your health condition, becoming too ill to work or meet your work coach or changes to your earnings (only if you’re self-employed).
Other changes include changes to your savings, investments, and how much money you have and changes to your immigration status if you’re not a British citizen. If you go abroad you can continue to get universal credit for one month, too.
You must be eligible for universal credit when you’re going abroad, remain eligible for it while you’re abroad, and also tell your work coach that you’re going. If a close relative dies while you’re abroad and it would not be reasonable for you to come back to the UK you can get universal credit for one more month.
You cannot get universal credit if you’re moving abroad permanently and you cannot apply for it if you’re already abroad.