Millions of people who claim benefits Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are being warned over £50 fines.
Benefits, including Universal Credit, help people with the cost of living, if they are unemployed or on a low income, for example, or unable to work for health reasons. Other benefits are given when men and women in Britain reach a certain age.
Government advice warns anyone who claims such benefits could be fined £50 if they fail to let the authorities know of a change in circumstances. This includes things such as having a baby, or getting a divorce.
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If you do not report a change you might be paid too much. If you are, you might have to pay some of the money back - as well as a £50 penalty.
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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