Reporting changes (and Ronnie)

Lesson 9 of 13 in our free Benefits & Support guide: a 5-minute money game with the key points below.

Shown for England. Some rules here are different in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: the lesson shows your nation's version.

This lesson is in the full version.

Free with a code from your uni, college, council, landlord or employer (worth £600/year). Lesson 1 of Benefits & Support is free for everyone.

Questions you'll answer

UC deducts £4.35 a month for every £250 of savings between £6,000 and £16,000. Mo's savings hit £8,000. How much a month comes off UC?

You think you've already typed your bank details into Ronnie's fake site. What now?

Your partner moves in → Report it. This changes your claim to a joint one. Report it straight away.
Your savings go above £6,000 → Report it. Capital over £6,000 reduces UC; over £16,000 usually ends it.
You start doing self-employed work → Report it. Report it, then report your self-employed earnings each month.
Your PAYE employer pays you this month → No need. PAYE earnings usually go to DWP automatically via HMRC. Still check your statement — mistakes happen.
You dye your hair purple → No need. Iconic. Not a change of circumstance.
You start paying for childcare → Report it. Report it with proof so you get the childcare element — there are time limits.
Red flag: “DWP: You are eligible for a one-off £450 Cost of Living Grant.” — Unexpected 'free money' text out of nowhere. Real payments are made automatically to eligible people — you don't apply by text.
Red flag: “To receive it, confirm your bank details and card number at uc-grant-claim.co” — DWP will never text you a link asking for bank or card details. That web address isn't gov.uk.
Red flag: “Reply within 24 hours or your Universal Credit will be suspended.” — Fake urgency and a threat — classic Ronnie pressure tactic.