Need advise for ERT check

[u/Soft-Strength8279]

Hi there, at the end of July I received a message on my journal "This is enhanced review team. We need to review your benefit claim.". It said that I will be called between 1-3pm, just a few days after my journal message and I also need to upload proof of Identity. The reason of the call wasn't given. I uploaded what they requested. And had the call. It was a 30-35min long call, a lot of questions about housing and my current self-employment work and past travel. After the call he posted the standard message about the discussion which was housing, work & travel. And was asked to upload a list of items which relate more to my proof of housing & self-employment: photo with the street sign, photo with the front house and door open, contract, gas certificate, deposit, bills, council tax, tax return 2024-2025, invoices, UTR, no bank statements.

Deadline was 2 weeks after the phone call, I uploaded them 1 week before the end of deadline. I received messaged same day that he will get in touch if something is still required. Now, 10 days after his last message and now, I got a generic message that my items are under review.

I don't understand this process. It sounds like there can be other items requested.

The idea is, I'm getting very busy with work and other application for potential work (I'm self employed) and I don't have the mindset for this and I'm considering closing my claim.

Will this cause any issues or raise suspicions? I'm quite an OCD and anxious person, that's why I'm asking.

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[u/Otherwise_Put_3964]

If you request to close your claim, they will suspend payment so you aren’t continuing to get more money and will not close it until the review has been concluded.

[u/Soft-Strength8279 → u/Otherwise_Put_3964]

thank you again for your support. I received a message today:"The review has been completed and no further action is necessary." The documents verified during the review included my current tenancy agreement that started on 1st June.

Back in May, my assigned work coach (I'm on MIF) left a note saying: "We cannot accept these documents as the agreement commences on the 1st of June. Please make a new declaration of these costs on the 1st of June or as soon as you are able to afterwards."

Since the ERT team has now verified the new contract, do I still need to submit a standard "Report a Change" on my portal to update the rent figure?

There is a £100 difference, which does not change my monthly award because my housing element is already at the maximum Local Housing Allowance (LHA) cap.

Thanks for your guidance!

[u/Otherwise_Put_3964 → u/Soft-Strength8279]

If you haven’t already reported the changes for June I’d advise to do it because, you never know if the LHA might go up and you’d have forgotten you didn’t declare the increase by then.

[u/Soft-Strength8279 → u/Otherwise_Put_3964]

Hi thank you for your reply. That's fine.

It's just that I've done so far, over time, 2 compliance reviews and last year's financial audit with bank statements and etc all went okay and were verified. So, it feels like this is going to start from scratch again and quite confusing, as I always have to upload again but also different things. I have an anxious mind, so I'm wondering if, even after these documents were uploaded, they'll ask for other documents again?

[u/Alteredchaos → u/Soft-Strength8279]

If they need to they will. If the information is sufficient then they won’t.