I'm worried sick, I can't eat or sleep and I'm in a dreadful state. I'm so scared that I am going to be taken to court and will have a criminal record, it's literally consuming every minute of every day and I generally don't know what to do for the best.
I have been claiming UC with my partner since March last year when we moved in together.
We were both asked in October last year to send in 4 months of bank statements, childcare invoices, etc etc for a claim review which we did. I have an old joint account with my ex husband which we have money in (money we've accumulated whilst we were married but we just haven't split yet). We have an amicable relationship so we can trust each other. We have officially divorced but we still have money in this account. I have known since February last year that I will be needing this money to put towards a house that I am purchasing with my current partner next month. I have never told UC about this account which now exceeds the £16k threshold (by around £2k). I'm not 100% sure when this would have exceeded the threshold. Calculating who got what from the divorce I think I will be due around £10k (so £8k will go to him). I have since learnt that UC sometimes disregard capital from a divorce if you're putting it down on a new property so I feel sick to my stomach that I didn't tell them about it at the time. It's literally going to be down to around £2k once I pay the deposit on my new property next month. My husband will then take what he is owed and we will close down the joint account (we only really left it open for joint childcare costs initially) but I just want to get rid of it now and start afresh.
I realise fully that I should have told UC (I so so wish I had) but I can't turn back time. I know they will ask for further statements which is fine. I can't believe it's all happening at the same time. I am due to provide statements on my journal by the day we move house so the majority of my money will have gone on the house.
What will happen please? Has anyone been in a similar situation? Did you have to go to court? I'm so scared. How much money did you have to pay back each month as I'll only have £2k left once the house deposit is paid. Did they stop your UC claim altogether? So many questions, sorry!