Universal Credit (LCW) review - Video Assessment

Hi Gary,

I am very pleased to say that I have been awarded LCWRA.

My ID and financial documents have been accepted as part of the UC review. However I will have to take part in a telephone appointment. I thought that this'd be the end of it. Is there anything to be concerned about with the interview?

On another matter I recently received a text saying that my PIP review is complete and that I will receive the decision letter within 2 weeks. Hopefully this will continue the award at least at the level it is now.

Larry1234

Hi Gary,

I had my UC telephone call and found that the DWP needs statements for *all* active accounts held in my name for the last 4 months. I already supplied bank details but it is more than this. It includes things such as Paypal (wallet) or The National Lottery (wallet for buying tickets and receiving winnings) or Bitcoin, no matter how small the amount in them. I have made a full disclosure even with tiny holdings and will try to keep things clear via my Journal to prevent misunderstandings.

Some of this is quite a bother as some of these accounts are not so easy to turn into a format the the DWP will accept as an upload, or may not have a full history.

These detailed reviews I am told is a new thing which is being rolled out for all claimants with possible further 6 monthly reviews during a claim.

With regard to my UC award I've already completed my "claimant commitment" which is to login to my journal often and check my to-do's . It seems that this part of the review is complete and the rest is to do with financial proofs.

I am very pleased to say that my PIP decision has been received and I retain what I am getting at the moment, standard mobility and daily living, with an "ongoing" award. My UC LCWRA award is going to be reviewed sometime in the future. I'm not sure whether I will be getting an increase in the UC benefit as a result of the change from LCW to LCWRA?

As I'm going to have to get these statements and submit them I'll update this post as things develop, as it is likely that there will be a further telephone call before the review is complete.

Larry1234

Hi Gary,

I've tried to satisfy the DWP's request for financial evidence by sending photos of my assets. This is the reply:
"Thank you for uploading the documents we requested for the Universal credit review.

Unfortunately we are only able to accept photographs of paper copies of your statements. We need to be able to see the account name with your name and address at the top of the statements to verify these belong to you.

The other option you have is to download the statements to your device and upload them to your claim."

With some of my accounts this should be possible to accommodate however the couple of bitcoin wallets I have are not associable with names and addresses, as they are just an account number/blockchain address. There isn't a statement as such just the coins and amounts held. Online accounts sometimes don't provide a means of downloading info. as well,

My assets in Bitcoin amount to no more than about £50.- depending on exchange rates.I seems that I cannot prove ownership as DWP wish other than taking my smartphone into a jobcentre and that's the best I can do.

Any ideas on this matter would be appreciated as I see a possible 'non compliance' issue approaching.

Larry1234

Hi Gary,

As far as I understand it - Bitcoins are the digital equivalent of cash and only have an 'account' number to show what is in the wallet. It'd be like trying to prove ownership of cash by sending a copy of a £5 note to the DWP; there isn't an associated name or address with it. Either they accept a persons word or not.

Other members might also like to know that some online accounts do not rely on open names and addresses to be used for buying and selling. e.g. Steam gaming platform. This only has an email address and partly hidden credit card and telephone numbers available on the screen. The platform has a grey background which makes a print out illegible with my black and white laser printer. Also it doesn't have a download option. These problems make it virtually impossible to prove as the DWP won't accept photos of the screen!

The whole business is vexing to say the least.

Larry1234