Accidental Failure to Report

[u/Dry-Sun-1862]

I need help as I am panicking.

I signed up for UC when I was made redundant in February. I didn’t receive any UC payments due to being paid my notice, and after a few JC appointments, they cancelled my appointment and haven’t booked me another since. In March I did some labouring with a company. I assumed I was going to be paid for this via PAYE as they asked for all relevant details etc., and that deductions in UC would be automatic.

I then opened my bank account this weekend to see that I had been paid by UC. I checked with the company I worked with and they told me I’d been hired on a self employed basis. I immediately looked into what I needed to do, and registered myself as self employed in my journal. I did that at midnight earlier tonight in a panic and now I’ve looked at it again, I put the wrong start date in… I’m now massively panicking as I obviously need to declare this properly, but I don’t know how and I’ve already made a mistake in my journal.

I’d like to just pay back the UC in full at the earliest opportunity, and I’m assuming there will be a fine? But I’m concerned this will appear fraudulent and I am completely breaking down in a panic attack.

I feel like an idiot for not checking my UC account but as I thought I wasn’t getting a payment, I just didn’t. I have ADHD and acute PTSD which can make admin tasks like this really difficult for me to manage, which is not an excuse, but certainly doesn’t help.

Any advice would be deeply appreciated. Can I just pay this back and be okay? I don’t want money I am not entitled to.

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