Savings threshold and fortnightly palyments on UC

Hi, I’ve just done my UC claim after being migrated from ESA, and am awaiting my first UC payment.

My questions are ragrding payments and ’savings’ thresholds:

1. what counts as 'savings' regarding the 6k threshold? Does it count as going over the threshold if at any point I go over 6k in the month including normal incoming and outgoings? I ask because I currently get tipped over at end of the month for a few days between payments coming in and bills/rent going out?

2. When they say we need to report changes in savings, do they just mean if/when it goes over 6k? I’m confused about what I need to report and when.

3. I read somewhere can request mayments to be fortnightly instead of monthly but I can see where to do this

Many thanks for your help,
Chloe

I find this irritating, as the excess isn't really capital. It's money to cover costs I've incurred but haven't yet been billed for.

It would help if payments were made on the same date each month, because then direct debits could be arranged strategically. But because income dates shift and outgoings dates don't, I run into this about three times a year.

I don't go a long way over the threshold, so I tend to reduce the excess by buying things I'm definitely going to need ahead of time. Siblings receive gift vouchers for birthdays still two months away, or there's a surprising amount of cat food under the bed considering the number of cats I have (1). I was due to go over the threshold again last month, so I currently have more dishwasher tablets and laundry liquid than any sane person needs and there's a shelf of extra ready meals in the freezer.

I have to maintain as much of a savings cushion as possible because I can't manage without my wheelchairs and they need batteries, repairs and periodic replacement. These costs have almost doubled in five years, yet the capital limit hasn't been raised for nearly 25.

Hi David,

thanks so much for this super helpful info and advice.

Do you have any understanding on when the DWP will start being able to do this survillance into people’s accounts? Has it gone through the House of Commons yet?

Thanks
Chloe