Overview
- In an Oct. 21 post on X, the DWP told people to update their Universal Credit account if they have moved in with a partner or their living arrangements have changed to avoid overpayments.
- Entitlement is based on household status, with cohabiting or married people required to claim as a couple rather than receive a single-person allowance.
- Official guidance says changes must be reported as soon as they happen because late updates can affect the whole assessment period and result in repayments.
- Not reporting changes or providing incorrect information can lead to penalties or court action in addition to the recovery of overpaid benefits.
- Nearly 20 types of changes should be reported via the online account—such as new contact details, bank or address updates, rent changes, and income or savings—with employers typically reporting earnings and self-employed people reporting monthly; a record eight million claimants adds weight to the alert.