The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has warned millions of people who claim benefits that they could be fined £50 for making a simple mistake. People can receive benefits for a variety of reasons, for example if they are unemployed, on a low income or unable to work for health reasons.
According to Government advice, anyone who claims benefits could be fined £50 if they fail to inform the authorities about a change in circumstance. This includes having a baby, getting a divorce, moving house or changing doctor.
Claimants who do not report a change may be paid too much. If this is the case, they will have to pay some of the money back, along with a £50 penalty, the Liverpool Echo reports.
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If the Government believes you deliberately did not report changes, you could be prosecuted for benefit fraud. This could mean your benefits being stopped altogether, and/or you having to pay a penalty of up to £5,000.
These are some of the changes you need to tell the DWP about:
- changing your name or gender
- finding or finishing a job, or working different hours
- your income going up or down
- starting or stopping education, training or an apprenticeship
- moving house
- people moving into or out of the place you live (for example your partner, a child or lodger)
- the death of your partner or someone you live with
- having a baby
- starting or stopping caring for someone
- getting married or divorced
- starting or ending a civil partnership
- planning to go abroad for any length of time
- going into hospital, a care home or sheltered accommodation
- any changes to your medical condition or disability
- changing your doctor
- changes to your pension, savings, investments or property
- changes to other money you get (for example student loans or grants, sick pay or money you get from a charity)
- changes to the benefits you or anyone else in your house gets
- you or your partner getting back-pay (sometimes called ‘arrears’) for salary or earnings you’re owed
- changes to your immigration status, if you’re not a British citizen
If you claim Child Benefit, you also need to report changes to your child's circumstances - such as them staying in education after turning 16, or if they start paid work.
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