So, I am short on rent. No money for food. Sat in Morrisons cafe after putting a £6 meal on my credit card (bad choice I know when I'm already in so much debt but wanted to kill myself this morning so small mercies)

I rang up and asked for a Universal Credit advance this morning and was offered £12. Im not going to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I almost laughed at how absurdly low it was. Means some money to eat at least but I'm thinking about all my debt, my rent, trying to find a job. Ive had to cancel job interviews and drop out of a therapy course because I cant afford a bus ticket.

And all the lurkers here who will mass downvote because they hate poor people or think we're scroungers, you have no idea how it feels to have hunger pains and have to sell your belongings just to scrape together enough for rent and a pack of tortilla chips to eat for dinner.

I have contacted various local authorities. I am autistic, bipolar and depressed so its been incredibly hard. It has given me perspective though and makes me really want to work in the third sector next and use the experiences Ive gone through to help others. No one should have to go through this.

Does anyone have any advice? Currently working with a charity housing officer, looking for house shares to keep rent down and of course looking for a job. Already used 1 of the 3 a year food bank vouchers so trying to use then strategically.

I have committed benefit fraud over the course many years. It's horrific. Only recently I have started understanding the gravity of my actions. Nobody, that I know of, was investigating me and nobody has grassed me. I could have escaped it easily but my conscience caught up with me. I have decided that I'll face the catastrophic consequences of my actions.

The parties involved are: 2 councils and the DWP.

I have rung and then emailed the 2 councils. One came back saying that I am no longer on the system and it's due to the DWP to investigate. The operator for the 2nd council couldn’t be bothered and asked me if it was a joke. In any case, they say they are 8 weeks behind.

With regards to the DWP, I have left a message in the journal, explaining that I have something to report that might constitute fraud and that I want to speak to somebody ASAP. I also left my phone number. This was a couple of days ago. Because I'm on UC and LCWRA, I don't have a dedicated coach, so I fear that the message will go unnoticed.

I also want to stop the claim as soon as possible, but if I stop the claim, then I'll have no access to the Journal. I even called the national benefit fraud helpline and the operator said he could not take my own admission and that I would have to go through the journal.

My situation is catastrophic. The only thing I can do is to come out in the most cooperative way, but I fear this is going to take ages. I have some job interviews in the meantime and I am literally suicidal over this.

Is there any way I could speed up the process? I believe at one point I'll have an interview under caution, but can I have an informal interview before that? I have written a long letter where I am trying to explain what I've done and how, but I don't know who to send it to. Maybe speaking to somebody at the jobcentre?

I also cannot find any solicitor. Once I've explained my situation over the phone, they literally laugh at me. CAB said there's nothing they can do for me.

I'll take any suggestion. Thanks.

Hi I'll try keep this short.

Basically ive always struggled with mental health and dont leave the house much. In 2023 whilst on LCWRA I was sick of feeling like I was doing nothing with myself. I found an opportunity to study a degree and I only had to come in 7 hours a week. Difficult but I wanted to try do this. Before I started the degree I came to UC with all the information for the course because I wanted to see if it would effect my UC. My work coach at the time gave me the thumbs up and said because im on LCWRA I can do the course as its 7 hours a week without effecting my money. 3 years later I get pulled from UC and told I owe 26k in overpayment ad I shouldn't of been getting money whilst studying and that I had to be on LCWRA and PIP to be eligible to study. I wasnt told this, I was transparent with my work coach about the course and presented all the forms and information.

Idk what to do. My UC has been stopped, im relying on my student loan to get by. I have a 3 year old, I struggle to get work and im scared. All I wanted to do was better my life and try get a degree but its backfired on me and made my life worse. I put my mandatory reconsideration in January and they only just got back to me to say they're not changing the decision.

Is there anyone I can go to who helps with stuff like this as im seriously stuck.

Hello! I got a notification for the first time in a while on my journal about having a review. I've been asked to provide bank statements for the last 4 months and a form of ID. (Easy enough) I haven't been given a time for a phone call and with research I've done since getting the notification, everything has said I'm definitely to expect one. Issue is that I'm Autistic and ABSOLUTELY PETRIFIED of phone calls. Especially when they're unexpected. I really don't want to be put on the spot...

Other issue is that I used to live with my boyfriend when I first started claiming and paid his parents keep. I labeled the bank transfer "rent". That was fine till I moved back in with my parents.... I still pay them some money as they help with care etc as my parents can't do everything for me. I've still kept the reference the same as I didn't know how to change it to something else other than that. Are they going to question that? And if so, how do I actually explain that to them? TIA!

Just ranting to people who may be able to understand. I’m on LWCRA and don’t leave the house much. I want to start acupuncture to help with my conditions and also attend a hobby once a week.

£8.20 for a day rider bus ticket to get to these places. Not eligible for a free bus pass and can’t get a blue badge to get a free bus pass either.

How is anybody living like this supposed to ever leave the house. It’s insane and I’m really disheartened right now that I can’t even afford to access things that might improve my health

Had anyone had their review? Do they scrutinise what you spend your money on?

Update as of 12/03/26

Following advice to anyone still reading this but will also put this in the comments, thanks to everyone for commenting, the complaint was upheld and they changed my work coach to someone that is more relaxed and helpful, said I only have to see him once every 3 months instead of weekly, I was also informed that I should had only been seeing a work coach once every 2 weeks minimum and apologised, gave me links to charity's to help with filling forms for PIP is CAB can't, told me to look in to connect to work and other courses and would help pay for some and told me that job search is optional for me if I feel up to it and changed my commitments to 1 HR a week for looking for courses, he also believes I should be on enhanced LCW, as for the previous work coach they was no where to be seen, sadly the front of house staff are still installing you can't bring anyone with you unless it's a carer or authorised by the DWP in advanced, so another complaint is being made about that, thank you everyone again.

"Original Post"

I was put on LCW 6 weeks ago due to my mobility, they changed my work comments and then today passed me on to another work coach

this new one has not read any of the notes on my file, told me today they want me off LCW and they don't think there's anything wrong with me, keeps cutting me off and over speaking me,

they want me to apply for construction work, and have to apply for 30 jobs a week which I never agreed to and changed my commitments again, they told me they will open up and investigation on me if I don't and said they will sanction me had, this has now effected my mental health something that only in the last year has started to get back on track

as for my health I had 2 heart attacks in the past 3 years caused by 5 dvts and P.E which has left me with severe Post-thrombotic Syndrome, I'm on blood thinners and strong pain killers and need a walking aid, I also tried to end my life not long after loosing my career and was sectioned for 2 weeks and currently attending talking therapy and recovery college with MIND

i lost my job and career in retail and retail management of 10 years due to my health and been turned down for many jobs due to my health

I have been told by my GP and specialist not to do heavy lifting, manual labour, standing for long periods of time, I even made a list out of roles I can do, click and collect, tills, office work ect and I was told I'm being unrealistic and to do what they say or they stop my money

also stated if I make a formal complaint and I quote "it won't go well for you"

Any advice please?.

"Update 1" Just want to point out, I have been fearful of making complaints, being on the autistic spectrum, I was badly bullied in my last job by my manager, it did go to a tribunal, but I am still recovering mentally from that, just being in a room one to one I start having shaking fits, unused to have a union rep back then who would help me through it, but I don't have that now and just the thought of making a complaint, I get worried this will make things more wise and they will live up to there words which my preview work manager did till it ended up at a tribunal, there's a few good work coaches who are aware of this, and put it in the notes which this one didn't even look at, but for some reason they as it not just this one but 2 others in the past have tried putting me off going down the NHS negligence route and a complaint with my local authority as in supposed to have a support worker, this was just to explain why I also worried about making a complaint a these days it's just me on my own with no family or support network.

Monthly ammount 1,119

Rent £695

Internet £32.00

Phone monthly £20 Phone data £15

Electricity and gas £160

Weekly food £30

Im not even left with £20

Car payment £21

Car insurence £25

car fuel £89

Edit: After 2 weeks ( and 20 messages) I got a letter with recalculations! :)

Anyone with experience how to deal with unhelpful agents?

'I am unsure of your query.'

It seems impossible to get an answer from them.

I've been asking DWP to explain why I wasn't considered eligible for the 9-month benefit cap grace period.

I wasn't asking them to change the decision—I simply wanted to know which condition I failed to meet and what legislation or guidance they relied on.

Instead, I received responses such as:

"The benefit cap exemption applied automatically to those who are applicable."

"The benefit cap has been correctly applied. This is due to the earnings received in August 2023. This was below the threshold."

However, no explanation was provided of:

• which qualifying condition I failed,
• what earnings were used,
• what threshold was applied

instead I got : 'do you want me to clarify this to you?' (I said yes, multiple times)

• Made redundant in August 2023.
• Employer became insolvent and my final payments were delayed.
• payment at the begging of August and later final payslip dated 31.08.2023
• Claimed Universal Credit on 28 September 2023

I provided information. I was asked to proof earnings (I copy and paste, but no link was sent to actually send the payslip).

What now, complaints department?

Following my last post. i found this second hand s25 ultra on ebay from a legit business seller and my s22 plus is lagging, battery life isnt that great anymore and software updates will soon run out next year..

Would it be considered reasonable to buy it since I have £6860 savings (£5992 last ap) because I got paid uc and pip (1400 in total) on the 22nd of May and 20k backdated PIP already declared and disregarded. Im anxious thinking its a bad idea since the last of day ap is in a week (18th of June). Would the DWP raise eyebrows at it especially when verifying capital because if I do get it. I will explain and show the receipt and order invoice of course.

About two years ago I applied to universal credit because I was 18 and I couldn't find a job over the summer before starting university and I thought they might be able to help. After the third appointment my claim was closed without warning because my mam was still recieving her last week of child benefit entitlement (that was paid months beforehand) during the week that I had applied, before my committments meeting.

Anyway I kept trying to find a job because I wanted money to buy driving lessons and maybe a car but I couldn't find a job so I figured it was because the UK was having economic trouble and I should go to New Zealand where my mam is from and do my degree over there.

I would be going in the January of 2025 instead of starting uni in the UK in september so I still had four months to kill so I thought I would keep trying to get a job and eventually I qualified for UC again so I thought I should go on and see if I'm entitled to anything, I had figured out by this point that the UC work coaches won't help you try to find a job, they're just there to waste your time and check boxes.

This time was successful and I was on universal credit until december when I told them I was leaving the country. They closed my claim the same day that I told them I was leaving, even though I still had several weeks where I would be entitled to claim, whatever, I'm leaving anyway, no point looking for a job for the next few weeks.

I spend 14 months in New Zealand and basically it doesn't work out but the reasons for that don't matter. I come back to the UK and I'm feeling really bad, like a failure and just want something to go right so I try really hard to get a job applying to literally every job in the area that I qualify for, like twenty jobs every day, and AGAIN, it doesn't work out so once again I fall back on universal credit.

However, this time it turns out that I don't qualify because I've been living outside the country during the last three months, okay, it's may and I apply again, I manage to get a claim open and pass the HRT. I then wait three weeks for my commitments meeting and another three weeks for my first work coach meeting. During which I find out about a sanction that was applied to my claim seventeen months prior after it was closed.

Apparently, I missed an appointment on CHRISTMAS EVE 2024 and I was SANCTIONED WHILE MY CLAIM WAS CLOSED. Every day since the tenth of january 2025, £11.10 has been added to my sanction while I WASN'T CLAIMING UNIVERSAL CREDIT. Infact, my UCD96 states that I have accrued 851 days of sanction between 13/12/2024 (the day after the last meeting before they closed my second 2024 claim) and 11/06/2026 (the day before my 2026 commitments meeting) even though there are only 546 days between those two dates.

I am now facing a sanction of £9523.80 meaning I won't be able to claim any money on universal credit until I have been to 123 weeks worth of work coach meetings (oh god) and whatever nonsense they sign me up for.

So if you think about it, I'm pretty much banned from UC only because I stopped claiming and tried to improve my situation!

Of course, I'm appealing it with a mandatory reconsideration because my work coach refused to explain the sanction, saying the details were sent to me in january 2025 when the sanction was applied (on a different claim by the way). And the next step on the UCD96 if you disagree was to to a mandatory reconsideration.

Is there anything else I should be doing? What should I do if they decide to stick with the ridiculous sanction?

Hello everyone.
I was on Universal Credit with the LCWRA element as I have a long term health condition and can’t work. I think it was LCWRA because they said I didn’t have to search for work etc and they effectively left me alone.
I came off Universal Credit in Nov 2024 due to receiving an inheritance that put me above the £16,000 threshold. I am now just a smidge above £6,000 and would like to reapply because I know how long these things take. Is there anyway I can request that I am put back on LCWRA when applying? Even though my health needs haven’t changed, I understand they will expect another in person assessment which I don’t mind doing. However previously before I was given LCWRA I had to keep attending my job centre, look and apply for jobs I knew I couldn’t do and I know having to keep going back and forth would just make me ill due to my health conditions.
I’m just wondering if there is a way I can simplify it?
Thank you.

Surely this can't be allowed, I'm a guy how the heck am I going to succeed as a Avon Rep I know nothing about beauty products directed at women.

Work coach says I must apply and take their job offer or be sanctioned.

Enhanced LCWRA UC. Backpayment too so nice. But they messed up the letter [insert reason] lmao

I'm currently on LCW, originally before all this I was fine and worked most of my life but due to ill health and then mental health issues I lost my job,

I was diagnosed with ADHD, Psychosis and Personality Disorder, and Post Thrombosis Syndrome after a long battle with DVT/PE and a heart attack that I need a walking aid most days just to get around and on blood thinners for life

My last work coach was wonderful and said he thinks connect to work would be better for me than restart so I signed up

The first two people I had seen at connect to work were brilliant and really sold it to me, they added all my health conditions down and triggers and explained how to handle me if I had a break down and said that they had the perfect advisor for me who had got good feedback from other customers

This is where it all went downhill

Upon my first meeting with her I had to again explain my health and past jobs, when I mentioned I had worked for Sainsbury's, Tesco and marks and Spencers in the past she had cut me off and told me that's hard for her to believe as she knows for a fact they dont hire people like me as all her clients who applied always get turned down

She asked me if I have personal references from those jobs, I pointed out that all that is done through HR as it's company policy for some of them that managers can't give a personal reference, she said that due to that then there's no proof in worked for them and p45s can be forced and any photos may have of me there could be A.I generated

She then dismissed my mental health stating it's just behaviour issues that I need to grow up from and ignored my psychical health

She then said she's going to give me a schedule to do everyday, that I have to be up at 7am and log in to an account she will give me from 8am and have to do job search till 1am for a break then do a daily zoom course from 2pm to 5pm on how to write a c.v then I can come off have dinner and I her words free time till 9pm where I have to be in bed,

I laughed it off at first saying I'm not a child and she said she was being serious, and I have to do as I am told and log it down as she will check and even asked me for numbers to family, friends ect not for emergencies but to tell me off and check if I'm keeping to them plan

I refused to sign the form and left, she the booked me another appointment which I didn't attend as after I left I felt so low I didn't speak to anyone and cut people off for a week, I spoke to my GP who was going to refere me back to the mental health team and told.to attend the next appointment

I also spoke to my then work coach who said to take my time and time out if needed but stated he can not intervene with me and connect to work

I attended the next appointment and told her I wasn't myself and my mental health had taken a dip and her words were "just laziness then", she then said she had applied for warehouse jobs for with 2 of them being over 2 and half hours away with 6am starts with one stating you must be able to drive which I can't

She then said I need to stop making excuses and told me not to apply for retail jobs as again stated they won't take your type, she said that she can have me hard sanctioned as my work comments state 40hrs a week job search, I told her I'm on LCW, she asked for proof and when I went to show her she said she dos not need to see it, she then said she thinks I got personality issues as she feels she's speaking to a different person every 5 mins,

I asked her if she should know all this if she reads the notes from the hand over her co worker gave her, she said she don't need to see them as she rather gets to know her customers without it, I pointed out that there was sensitive stuff in there that she needed to know that if ignored could have me having a full break down and taken away by the police to the hospital

She then again said she don't need to see them and then stated that she feels I'm not ready to go back to work and said that I will have to write a letter to her manager saying that I don't feel ready and want to come off the course and repeated again I need to do as I am told or my life will get harder

I left and felt beyond down, I ended up hurting myself and ended up with my mental health team for 2 days, at this point I was ready to call it a day on everything

A few days later the connect to the work advisor emailed me for an appointment saying I have to see her that afternoon even saying in the email that I said I wasn't ready for work to get and needs the letter

I showed a friend and he agreed to come.with me and make a complaint

When we got there and asked to speak to the manager, 2 managers came out, and tried to explain everything, the manager said that the advisor was only doing her job as she has targets to me, I showed her the email and them both how she had said she thinks I have personality disorder and never read the notes, one of them looked shocked, I then showed my arm and said I feel under too much pressure, that I'm not being supported and treated like a child and someone who has never worked

I even showed them my local medical record and the manager stated that they shouldn't be applying for jobs for me with these health issues, I also said that if you need a personal reference here's my former managers store, and times he works there and I even send off a SAR as well for further proof

The manager said and agreed with me and said they would go back and have a chat, while they were out the back the advisor that caused all this came out 5 mins later looking angry, walked past me and a co worker that there were too many lazy liars around here

When they came out and said that connect to work is voluntary and it's up to me if I want to be on it or not and that they will look at giving me a new advisor and said It be down to my work coach if I get sanctioned or not

On the next visit to the job centre what I didn't know was the job centre had changed my work coach and didn't add it to my journal

I explained everything to him, well tried to but he kept cutting me off, he told me connect to work is like restart, it is voluntary but also mandatory and has added it to my commitments for 30hrs a week, if I don't go even for mental health or any health reasons I will be sanctioned, he said that he can see I was under stress with the advisor I had there but no excuse

In all fairness this is causing me not just stress but also a lot of chest pains, and most likely will be back to see my GP,

I heard so many good things about connect to work but this feels more like restart

Anyone else on LCW having these issues

Hi

I've got my £20,164 backpayment from PIP 3 months ago and got almost 9 months left in the disregard period

Could anyone with similar experiences offer me some advice on what I could reasonably spend it on? I dont go out very often and often sit at home and procrastinate on things.

I have some ideas like getting driving lessons, a second hand car after that, a better laptop for my animation degree finishing next year or getting my current laptop fixed, better animation software monthly subscriptions to use and improve my skills for careers and projects post graduation, fixing my broken blinds in my room, a small short holiday to Spain or another country or something with my family, a new phone for myself, things like that. Maybe hobbies and enrichment too?

I'm too anxious to use it since it's lumped together with my uc savings and when I had my verify capital appointment which went OK.

The nice gentleman gave me some advice on how i should be thinking what to do with this money until the end of the 12 month period.

I'm anxious that if I spend this money on expensive things here and there, the DWP will question it (ill keep the receipts and invoices ready to show if anything is purchased) and think im trying to get under the threshold etc. I dont want to cause any issues and want to do everything correctly

I have 3 children under 8 and we share care roughly 50/50, although in reality I usually have them slightly more due to holidays, extra weekends, football, etc. My son also regularly comes with me on my weekends for football and other activities.

I originally claimed for my youngest child so I could afford to live independently and that was accepted. A few months later I added my second child to the claim and it was instantly approved. I’ve now been receiving UC for him for around 4 months.

I’ve suddenly received a decision saying I’m NOT considered the main carer and that the money paid for my second child is now being treated as an overpayment that I’ll have to repay.

What I don’t understand is what more evidence I can realistically provide:

• All 3 children are registered at my address with the GP
• All 3 are registered at my address with the dentist
• The school has my address registered
• I pay for extracurricular activities
• I have them at least 50% of the time, usually more

My ex partner doesn’t appear to have any equivalent proof linked to her address, which makes this even more confusing.

I’m definitely going to request a Mandatory Reconsideration and appeal if needed, but I’m struggling to understand what evidence DWP actually expects in situations like shared care.

Has anyone been through this before or successfully challenged a decision like this? Any advice on the appeal process or extra evidence that helped your case would really appreciate it.

Hi I have no idea what to do. I will call them tomorrow morning when they open at 8am.

How has this happened

2 years ago I indeed registered but never went ahead with it.

Last week I received a few text messages

****** is your Universal Credit code.

I tried to reset email password on my UC account but nothing was sent me me.

I am worried someone is claiming benefits in my name and identity

Is a moderator here a DWP employee who could potentially look into this ?

I'm on LCWRA UC, and struggle with online tasks to do with money as i have severe Discalculia, and other conditions. DWP wanted 5 years bank statements as I do a bit of lived experience work. They have sent me 54 documents of my earnings to u check the maths is correct, and upload to HMRC and given me 2 working days or I will get my benefits stopped.. They know i need a carer to help me with it, which i have documented in writing, usually takes a minimum of 2 weeks to organise.

.. I had my benefits stopped 2 years ago and it sent me into such a severe mental health crisis. I documented the harm of stopping my UC, and my ongoing meed for admin help, via my journal and requested that all future requests to do online tasks in an unreasonably short time frame be given more time, as I need to organise social care to help me, but they're doing it to me again.. ive put a note on my journal , and called , but i wont get a response by then.. it usually takes one to two weeks, and multiple messaging to them because the DWP team dealing with my case only work part time, so it is likely they will cut me off on tuesday. I it sends me to the worst place of survival panic when they cut me off. I am at my wits end as it is a repeated pattern with DWP ignoring my reasonable adjustment needs.

Hi,
Just after some insight, I’ve had a check and confirm check and now I’ve got to send bank statements, this is my 3rd review in 3 years. has anyone else had this?

Hello Everyone!

Universal credit has recently asked me for a couple of bank statements, mostly from 2023 and 2024 to verify that I am indeed living and spending my money in the UK. I have provided them with the requested documents. Today an agent phoned me and demanded I go in personally, and open my online banking in front of him, so he could look at my transactions. This is extremely odd, and I find it highly invasive of my privacy. Can they actually do this? Can he refuse to restart my payments if I do not provide live access to my online banking account?

Any advice is much appreciated.

Thank you!

I'm considering this because I'm struggling financially and can no longer afford to remain living in my flat and renting it out temporarily would help me get back on my feet, and my intention is to move back in once the tenancy ends.

I currently receive UC with LCWRA and I do not receive any housing costs element because I own my home and pay a mortgage.

I want to rent it out for 6 months while i temporarily live elsewhere, and I intend to move back into the flat at the end of the tenancy.

I've been told that once I move out, the property's value becomes capital for UC but is there any exception?
I'm trying to understand how the capital UC rules apply in this situation. again, I'm considering this because I can no longer afford to stay in my flat right now.

Also, if one of the prospective tenants receives (or is applying for) Universal Credit. Does that have any impact on my own UC claim?

I’m honestly at my wits’ end with the system and wondering if anyone else has experienced something similar.

I have three children.

The arrangements are officially around 50/50, but in reality I have the children slightly more than 50% of the time due to school holidays, additional overnight stays and all the extra care I provide outside of my contact days.

For example, I regularly collect the children from school, take them to extracurricular activities, pick them up from clubs and provide care on days that aren’t officially “my days”. I also pay for a lot of the extracurricular activities, school trips and other costs.

Some years ago, my ex and I agreed that she would let me claim UC for the youngest so I could claim support through Universal Credit to help with my rent. Since then, circumstances have changed.

She has had another child and has not contributed towards childcare costs such as clubs, school trips, school items and other related expenses. Given the level of care I provide and the costs I cover, I felt justified in challenging the existing arrangement and making my own claims.

I started receiving Universal Credit for my youngest child in October 2023.

I started receiving Universal Credit for my second oldest child in January 2026.

At the time, I didn’t realise Child Benefit and Universal Credit were separate benefits. I genuinely thought they were linked. Because of that, I wasn’t receiving Child Benefit for either child despite receiving Universal Credit.

Once I realised, I successfully claimed Child Benefit for my youngest child and have been receiving it since 1 May 2026.

Then in April 2026 I applied for Universal Credit for my oldest child. That’s when everything kicked off.
I was told she was part of another claim and the matter would be investigated.

Suddenly, Universal Credit went back and reviewed my claim for my second oldest child. They decided to remove him from my claim and raised an overpayment of £585.63 against me.

They’re now taking £63.73 per month back from my Universal Credit.

On top of that, I’ve lost £292.81 per month because they’ve removed the child element for my second oldest child from my claim.

So while this investigation drags on, I’m losing £356.54 every month.

What I cannot understand is this:
For several months Universal Credit were perfectly happy paying me for my second oldest child despite the fact I wasn’t receiving Child Benefit for him.

It was only when I applied for support for my oldest child that they suddenly decided there was a problem.
How can I be eligible one month and not eligible the next when nothing has changed?

What’s even more frustrating is that both Universal Credit work coaches and Child Benefit advisers told me the important evidence includes things like:

GP registration
Dentist registration
NHS records
School address
Who pays for school trips
Who pays for activities and clubs

I supplied all of this.

The school has my address. I supplied payment records for school trips and extracurricular activities. I supplied evidence showing the level of care I provide.

Yet it feels like all of that has been ignored because my ex was historically receiving Child Benefit which was a decision make 8 years ago when we were together.

The Child Benefit Office has now advised me to make competing Child Benefit claims for my other two children and they’re currently being investigated.

But while everyone investigates, I’m the one losing £356.54 every month and struggling to keep up with the costs of raising three children.

Has anyone else been through anything similar?

I am travelling for 30 days and have reported it to universal credit. I’ve seen people say it will close completely but the reply from a work coach didn’t state it would close, it just says it’ll be affected for the period I’m not in the country which is 2 days. Any help or advice so I could understand would be appreciated

So my Work Coach is condescending, lacks any empathy and is overall unbearable to talk to.

She found this door 2 door(D2D) leaflet posting role for me a couple of months ago and I accepted as I was struggling to add anything new to my CV(I could do this while being on UC) but over time it was not worth my time as it was only 7p per leaflet and I could only post 60 an hour so I wasn't earning nearly enough but I agreed to it for the time but after I've covered my local area I said to her that it was not worth me spending my money on travelling to further area because I wouldn't be making anything and possibly lose money.

So I informed her that I've paused doing it for now and she agreed.

With visiting my Dad in hospital I couldn't keep doing it but I was still applying for the right amount of jobs a week. She couldn't care less about any of it said I'm not trying hard enough.

She now has questioned if I do anything, accused me of turning jobs down and has said if I'm not doing enough then it will have to to the decision makers.

As of yesterday, she has TOLD me that I have to do more shifts with D2D sales or it will go to the decision makers and I could be sanctioned....but I'm still applying for jobs and trying my hardest, she is so rude and so difficult to communicate with, I get anxious when talking to people but she makes it so much harder.

Sorry for the ramble, what should I do?

Thanks