DWP monitoring bank accounts - please put together advice article B and W?

Hello there all,

First up, I suffer from various forms of anxiety and physical health issues which are made worse by stress.

The way I cope on a day to day basis is to try to sort out the things which are likely to happen realistically from the things which are not likely to happen.

I am not great with finances anyway and tend to waver between double checking bills/my account and the post and overspending because I am fed up. When I say 'overspending' - compared to some people in the world - who are allowed to have cars and holidays my so called luxuries are a £5 special offer ticket to the cinema with my daughter. Just to get it in perspective.

I have found myself in spiral of anxiety with regard to pending possible changes, and so am now putting a list together here hoping to reassure myself and being clear about the things I don't need to worry about regarding this.

This has not been helped by a petition circulating which includes a transcript of a phone call someone anonymous apparently got from the DWP - querying items on their bank account and asking about grocery shops etc.

So can we get our facts straight on this please and can benefits and work look over the information below and tell us if this is correct or not. I know, I'm sorry to ask you for more help and I'd rather not, but I've got the feeling this might help a lot of people.

So here are the facts as I understand them:

1. o.k. we know esa/uc has a capital limit of savings of 6,000 pounds. If you have over that and under 16,000 you have to tell them and pay a certain proportion of what you have (I forget how much).

2. PIP on it's own has no such limit as it is not means tested.

3. Obviously there is a list of changes of circumstances with uc and esa which need to be reported i.e. change of address etc. that has been the case for a long time.

3. The bill which is being debated by the House of Lords - has not passed into law yet - and even if it is - it would not come into effect until 2025? Question being - which is relevant to many is - if we get a new government would the legislation still be passed? If not, are we all worrying about nothing?

4. In a concrete sense - I am aware that DWP are pushing the boundaries anyway - with the questions they ask - should any of us receive a phone call querying something - what are we supposed to do? Or not do?

5. My first port of call is generally the CAB on such matters - but it is really difficult if you get a phone call on a Friday generally and then are left to worry about it all weekend on your own...I'm sure that I'm not on my own with this as many of use have mobiity issues anyway and can't necessarily so easily go and see someone in person.

6. I am aware that if they are investigating you, you should get a letter (?) or is a phone call enough? And if that happens is it recorded/can you make notes? What are you supposed to do if you feel they are asking inappropriate questions? Are they for example allowed to ask you why you haven't any grocery shop transactions in a given week (as an example - I have a store cubboard, for food which I've had since covid and my grocery bill goes up and down anyway with depression and my attempts to eat a better diet with arthritis. I have been known to order a takeaway or groceries via deliveroo when I am too depressed to go out. Will I be criticised for that?

7. Finally, I suspect there will be some unfortunate souls who will be targeted anyway even though we have not done anything wrong. If we are accused of something, how can we defend ourselves? It is very frightening to hear that DWP are threatening people with fines and/or prison. Is this realistic? (My guess is that the person who is targeted will need to trawl back through their own bank accounts and prove that certain transactions are legit). But that takes time and for those of us with mental health issues it is difficult anyway?

What happens to the people with spending disorders or with a gambling problem?

I would be grateful to be told I am over obsessing - and worrying too much but that is what I do anyway and I help myself by looking at what the worse case scenariro might be and then putting a plan in place as to how I might tackle it. And/or by switching my rational brain on and repeating to myself for example that it is unlikely I might be sent to prison for something I've done. ..

But if they threatened that for example, what would I do ? I would probably be suicidal at that point as I'm depressed anyway - can B and W advise and work on a 'what to do if you receive a phone call guide' ?

Please be gentle, I know I suffer from anxiety and 90 per cent of the things I worry about don't even happen but that is severe anxiety for you, it is definitely no fun, and it is with this post that I am trying to find a way forward with it.

All responses appreciated.

pttred

Thank you so much.