UC: DWP expect me to tell them how much savings I have every assessment period!

I'm currently in the process of migrating from irESA (support group) to UC.

I've just come across Government Guidance Universal Credit: money, savings and investments

It says that every assessment period I have to report to them how much savings I have and that any benefits not spend within the period is classed as savings! (including my PIP payments !)

This is an unacceptable intrusion into my personal life. No I don't have savings over £6,000. I never have. But I do put money aside each month, for example Later on this year I will have a £1,000 approx bill for car gearbox servicing. Also, Next year I will be going on holiday with friends to Centre Parcs for three days, and I am putting money aside for expenses. I also have money put aside in case of unexpected bills, such as fridge freezer breaking down. This is good financial practice.

I'm sorry, but them expecting me to state how much money I have in my bank accounts on a monthly basis - especially considering the amounts I have are well under £6,000 (actually it's under £3,000) and therefore have no effect on my benefits is just unacceptable.

They give three examples of people with more than £6,000 in savings. But no examples of people with under £6,000 in savings. They even state on the page that "If you have below £6,000 it will not affect your award".

On the link above it states:

If you knowingly reduce your money, savings and investments, or transfer them elsewhere to get or increase your Universal Credit, this is known as ‘deprivation of capital’.

You have not knowingly reduced your money, savings and investments if it has been used to:

pay off or reduce a debt
pay for goods and services that were reasonable in your circumstances

Well, my savings ARE to pay off and reduce debts (that will both definitely occur and will probably occur in the case of household appliances breaking down and needing to be replaced) and also to pay for stuff that is reasonable - car costs, monthly shopping for food, clothes etc and other bills that are paid on a yearly basis (eg Car insurance), three days away with friends etc). Considering the amount is well under £6,000 it couldn't in any way shape or form to be considered 'deprivation of capital'

To say I'm angry is an understatement. I will certainly NOT be giving them a monthly running balance of how much money I have in my bank accounts - especially as its well under £6,000 and they say I have not reduced my savings by paying off or reducing debts or paying for reasonable goods and services and therefore am NOT trying to con them out of benefits I'm not entitled to.

Ali.

You only have to report if you have over £6,000 in savings.

You don't have to report your savings every Assessment Period. Some of the text on government websites is faulty

Indeed! Thank you David

You only have to report if you have over £6,000 in savings.

Yes, Thanks for confirming that.

Sadly the page I linked to above doesn't state that I only have to report if I have over £6,000 in savings. As you say, faulty text.

Also, The UC application form in the "Money, Savings and Investments" to do section asks how much money I have in my current account (in pounds and pence!) and also how many savings accounts I have and how much (again including pence!) I have in my savings accounts. As well as which bank my saving accounts are with and the last four digits of the accounts! Well, considering the under £3,000 amount is all there to reduce debts and pay for reasonable expenses, then zero.

Also, I only keep the bare minimum necessary in my current account. The rest I transfer into my savings account to earn a few pence interest each month. I transfer the money back to my current account as needed to pay for bills and daily spending for food, petrol etc. In other words, I use my savings account as an interest paying current account! (last month earning about £2 in interest!)

So just because it's called a 'savings account' doesn't mean it's savings!

I don't have any ISAs, investments, property etc. I'm amazed they don't ask how many points I have on My Tesco Clubcard or BP card!

The bad news is that if the Labour Government goes ahead with new surveillance plans we won't have to tell them as they will be able to " look " into our accounts

Yeah, mass surveillance of bank accounts. that will be fought in the courts as in no way shape or form can it be considered legal or ethical.

Ali.