17 Universal Credit changes to report to the DWP or risk losing payments

The Department for Work and Pensions lists 17 changes in a claimant's life that must be reported as soon as possible. Universal Credit claimants who miss one could be sanctioned, end up owing money to the DWP or have their payments stopped. The Daily Mirror says the benefit supports around 8.4 million people across Scotland, England and Wales.

The rules are not new, but they still catch people out. Many of the changes on the list are ordinary parts of life, such as a new phone number, a rise in rent or a teenager leaving college. According to the Mirror, failing to report a change can in some cases be treated as benefit fraud, which is a criminal offence.

Official guidance on Gov.uk also says a change can affect what you are paid for your whole assessment period, not just from the day you tell the DWP. This means a late report can leave you with too much or too little in your next payment, and either one can cause trouble later.

The 17 changes the DWP wants to hear about

The DWP list, as reported by the Mirror, falls into a few broad groups. Changes to work and money include finding or finishing a job, changes to your earnings if you are self-employed, and changes to your savings, investments and how much money you have. Changing your bank details is on the list too.

Changes at home and in the family include moving to a new address, your rent going up or down, moving in with a partner, having a child, and starting to care for a child or a disabled person. Parents must also report it if a child aged 16 to 19 stops or restarts education or training.

The rest of the list covers changes to your health condition, becoming too ill to work or to meet your work coach, and a new mobile number or email address. It also includes going outside Great Britain for any length of time if you live there, and any change to your immigration status if you are not a British citizen. The DWP guidance quoted by the Mirror warns: "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."

Who could face an overpayment bill

These rules apply to every Universal Credit claimant, whether they are out of work, on a low income or unable to work. Gov.uk says Universal Credit is replacing Housing Benefit and income-related Employment and Support Allowance. People still on those older benefits are told they do not need to do anything unless their circumstances change or they get a letter called a Migration Notice.

If you are paid more than you were entitled to, that is an overpayment and you will have to pay the extra back. The Mirror reports that the DWP can take the money back from future benefit payments or from wages, or get a court order to recover the debt.

It can also work the other way. If you were paid less than you should have been, that is an underpayment, and you could be owed a back payment from the DWP, possibly as a lump sum. The Mirror notes that in some cases this kind of payment can affect means-tested benefits.

Key numbers

• 17: the number of changes of circumstances the DWP says Universal Credit claimants must report as soon as possible.
• 8.4 million: roughly how many people across Scotland, England and Wales get Universal Credit, according to the Mirror.
• 16 to 19: the age range of children whose stopping or restarting education or training has to be reported.
• 6: the number of other benefits that Universal Credit is replacing with a single monthly payment, according to Gov.uk.

What happens next for claimants

This is a reminder about existing rules, not a new policy, so nothing in the system changes and no new deadline has been published. The duty to report starts as soon as the change happens, and Gov.uk says the change can alter your payment for the whole assessment period it falls in.

Anyone still getting Housing Benefit or income-related ESA should look out for a Migration Notice in the post. Gov.uk says that anyone who gets one must move to Universal Credit by the deadline date in the letter to keep getting financial support.

What you can do now

The quickest way to report a change is online. You can sign in to your Universal Credit account to report a change in circumstances, check your statement, see when your next payment is due and message your work coach or case manager through your journal. Gov.uk warns that a reply might take a few days, so report a change as soon as it happens rather than waiting.

Keep a note of the date each change happened and the date you reported it, and save a copy of your journal entry if you can. If you have forgotten your username or password, Gov.uk says you can ask for a reminder.

If you already owe money because a change was missed, the charity Turn2Us advises people to "get expert advice as soon as you can". Citizens Advice has guidance on Universal Credit and can help with problems on a claim.

Your questions answered

Do I need to tell the DWP about a short trip abroad?

Yes. The DWP list says you must report going outside Great Britain for any length of time if you live there. The same rule applies to people in Northern Ireland who leave Northern Ireland.

What happens if I have been overpaid?

You will have to pay back the money you were not entitled to. The Mirror says the DWP may take it from future benefit payments or from your wages, or get a court order to recover the debt.

Do I have to report changes to my earnings?

According to the Mirror's summary of the DWP list, changes to earnings are on the list only for people who are self-employed. All claimants must still report finding or finishing a job, as well as changes to their savings, investments and how much money they have.