All you need to know about notifying the DWP if your circumstances change
Brits are reminded that failing to inform the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of certain changes could result in your payments being stopped. Recent statistics from the DWP reveal that by December’s end, approximately 8.4 million people throughout Scotland, England and Wales were claiming Universal Credit, whether employed or unemployed.
This income-assessed benefit typically arrives monthly, though Scottish residents may receive payments every fortnight. Yet many recipients remain unaware that failing to notify the DWP of particular circumstantial changes could affect their eligibility or payment amounts and, in certain instances, result in financial penalties or legal proceedings.
As reported by the Daily Record, nearly 20 different changes require notification, such as obtaining a new mobile number or email address, transferring to another bank account, relocating to a new address and experiencing increases or decreases in rent. Official DWP guidance published on GOV.UK cautions: “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.”
Changes requiring DWP notification
According to DWP guidance on GOV.UK, reporting changes in circumstances is essential to ensure you continue receiving the correct monthly amount. The guidance emphasises that changes must be reported “as soon as they happen” as any postponement “may mean you receive too much money and will have to make a repayment”.
The DWP cautions: “Changes in your circumstances can affect how much you’re paid for your whole assessment period – not just from the date you report them.”
Changes can include:
- Finding a job
- Finishing a job
- Having a child
- Moving in with your partner
- Starting to care for a child
- Starting to care for a disabled person
- Your child stopping or restarting education or training, if they’re aged 16 to 19
- Changing your mobile number
- Changing your email address
- Moving to a new address
- Going outside Great Britain for any length of time, if you live there
- Going outside Northern Ireland for any length of time, if you live there
- Changing your bank details
- Your rent going up or down
- Changes to your health condition
- Becoming too ill to work or meet your work coach
- Changes to your earnings (only if you’re self-employed)
- Changes to your savings, investments and how much money you have
- Changes to your immigration status, if you’re not a British citizen
How to report a change
DWP advises that claimants can report a change of circumstances by signing in to their online Universal Credit account.
If you get a job or increase the hours you work
Use a benefits calculator or speak with your work coach to find out how getting a job or an increase in your earnings might affect your Universal Credit claim.
Most employers will report your earnings for you. You will normally only need to report monthly earnings if you are self-employed.
If you have been paid too much by DWP
You may have to repay the money if you:
- did not report a change straight away
- gave wrong information
- were overpaid by mistake
Full details about benefit overpayments can be found on GOV.UK here.
