A person who recently won £40,000 in an online competition has found themselves under scrutiny by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The winner, who was receiving Universal Credit (UC), reported the prize win to the DWP and subsequently closed their claim. Despite this, the DWP has requested bank statements and scheduled an interview as part of their checks.
The situation was shared on Reddit by a family member seeking advice on whether the DWP’s request is permissible after the claimant closed their UC claim. They wrote: “My relative won £40,000 in an online competition on Sunday night. On Monday morning, she notified Universal Credit and asked to close her claim. Now they’re demanding bank statements and interviews. Are they allowed to do that if her claim is closed?”
Reddit users explained that the DWP often needs to verify the timing and source of any significant financial gains to ensure accurate benefit assessments. One user noted that the department wants to confirm the prize was won recently and not concealed for months during the claim. Another pointed out that potential fraud during the claim period is still subject to investigation, even if the claim itself has ended.
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A further comment highlighted the importance of verifying the legitimacy of the win, stating: “They need to verify the exact date the money was won and confirm it came from an online competition. Once that’s established, the claimant can move forward without constraints.”
While the process can be stressful, the clear benefit is that the claimant has received a significant cash prize and will no longer be reliant on benefits.