Universal Credit claimant 'felt ill' and 'questioned every penny spent' ahead of review

UC claimant 'felt ill' and 'questioned every penny spent' ahead of review
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A Universal Credit claimant said a review 'triggered' their anxiety to the point they 'were on the verge of throwing' up and 'began to question every penny' they spent. But following the phone call, which lasted 'five minutes', they said they'd 'never felt such relief'.

The Reddit user said they'd been in receipt of UC for three years, explaining they had autism spectrum disorder and severe anxiety, and jobs they'd had in the past hadn't 'lasted long' as they'd 'always burn out and get in a really dark place mentally'. They told fellow forum users they'd been contacted two months ago and asked for four-months worth of bank statements as part of a review.

"This triggered my anxiety so badly," they said. "I would lay in bed with a thumping headache, feeling absolutely ill and on the verge of throwing up. I was so worried they were going to find something that they didn’t like on there, I began to question every penny I spent."

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They said while endured 'quite a long wait' for the phone call, they'd been contacted earlier this week and said the short call was over in five minutes. Recalling their experience, they said: "The interviewer asked me about two transactions that I had made to another person, and those two people were my mother and cousin. I explained that this was to family members and he asked nothing else beyond that.

"I received a note in my journal straight after the call saying that my claim had been completed. I’ve never felt such relief before, it really wasn’t as bad as my anxiety was making it out to be. Has anybody else had their claim reviewed and what was your experience like?"

One response read: "I am still waiting for mine and know what you mean about anxiety, although I don’t feel I have done anything wrong…Just need it to be closed as the underlying stress is making me ill." A similar comment read: "Nice. Not had one yet but expecting one soon. There’s a couple payments I know they will ask me about and it’s causing bad anxiety before I’ve even got one."

A third wrote: "You're not guaranteed they'll ask you about anything. The person who did mine asked nothing about any of our payments and only looked for capital stuff."

Another said: "I think there's far too much speculation and hyperbole on social media about these and this us clearly the consequences. It's getting ridiculous if it's getting people this ill.

"I understand as it's been the first time some have been through a review but they are and should be routine. Once they start checking properly from the onset and people now start understanding and following the rules they should become just a formality."

The gov.uk website states that Universal Credit claims could be reviewed to make sure people were getting the right payment and support. It said if a review was going to take place, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) would contact claimants and let them know through their online account.

DWP would then ask for some documents - such as ID and bank statements - to confirm details ahead of a phone interview to discuss the claim. The review might find that claimants were getting too much or too little in their Universal Credit payment, which would see payments changed to reflect the decision. However those who disagree with the review outcome were able to challenge it.