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Being summoned to Job Centre with LWCRA

Eeve

Hello,

I look after a person with LWCRA (plus now awaiting for PIP form) and recently made changes to rental amount on gov website for rent increase.

Strangely the gov worker did not understand that it was an increase and not a decrease of rental and did not accept the documents. They have called and asked to go centre with 1 day notice with no specific appointment time and no task note (they just said come in anytime from this hour and bring proof of address).

Can they actually make people on LWCRA go for the rental amount rectification even though they have spine problems on their medical record? We are thinking of refusing to go as this person seems to be doing it because she can't be bothered instructing us via notes.

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Comments

poppy123456

When you say changes were made on the Gov website, do you mean their journal? Usually when doing this UC will ask for proof of liability to pay rent, such as a tenancy/lodgers agreement or a letter stating there's an increase of rent from their landlord. UC can provide a link on their journal for them to send the proof, they need to ask them for this.

Whether they're entitled to any extra housing element will depend on their circumstances. If they are already receiving the maximum housing element then there will be no increase.

Are they renting from social/council housing or privately renting?

Eeve

poppy123456 said:

When you say changes were made on the Gov website, do you mean their journal? Usually when doing this UC will ask for proof of liability to pay rent, such as a tenancy/lodgers agreement or a letter stating there's an increase of rent from their landlord. UC can provide a link on their journal for them to send the proof, they need to ask them for this.

Whether they're entitled to any extra housing element will depend on their circumstances. If they are already receiving the maximum housing element then there will be no increase.

Are they renting from social/council housing or privately renting?

Thank you for the response! It's a private rental and I live with them, looking after them.

It was an update via UC journal and we filled out the details couple of times with new rental price and letter from the letting agency. But now they are asking for more (proof of address so we sent it out yesterday) and one of the agents seems to be difficult about it.
I am thinking of refusing to go on grounds that there is no task note for the meeting, they are struggling to walk and it can be easily uploaded via gov website. Would we get in trouble for explaining the situation and not going?

Eeve

I think that we are not so much worried about getting extra house benefit. We just wanted to update it on their system so it reflects what we actually pay but it's been such a nightmare and now they are asking to come into job centre.

poppy123456

You can ask them to send a link so you can send what's needed. If they refuse this are you able to attend the local job centre on their behalf to give the proof?

Are you claiming for your share of the rent or is this person liable for all of the rent?

Just so that you're aware when claiming UC then rent is paid as part of this known as housing element. Housing benefit is a completely different benefit. When claiming UC you would only be claiming housing benefit if you're either living in supported or temporary housing.

Eeve

poppy123456 said:

You can ask them to send a link so you can send what's needed. If they refuse this are you able to attend the local job centre on their behalf to give the proof?

Are you claiming for your share of the rent or is this person liable for all of the rent?

Just so that you're aware when claiming UC then rent is paid as part of this known as housing element. Housing benefit is a completely different benefit. When claiming UC you would only be claiming housing benefit if you're either living in supported or temporary housing.

I see! We are paying the rent in half (both of us are on the agreement). I am not claiming any benefits myself.

I will definitely ask if I can go on their behalf because that would be so much easier.

We might not be entitled to the housing benefit in that case but I thought it was worth mentioning the rent increase as they have sent us the details through the journal.

poppy123456

It's known as housing element, part of their UC claim.

Eeve

poppy123456 said:

It's known as housing element, part of their UC claim.

Thank you for the clarification!

I will try both as suggested - link and going on their behalf. Hopefully it will be resolved this way.

Tronster

Eeve said:

poppy123456 said:

You can ask them to send a link so you can send what's needed. If they refuse this are you able to attend the local job centre on their behalf to give the proof?

Are you claiming for your share of the rent or is this person liable for all of the rent?

Just so that you're aware when claiming UC then rent is paid as part of this known as housing element. Housing benefit is a completely different benefit. When claiming UC you would only be claiming housing benefit if you're either living in supported or temporary housing.

I see! We are paying the rent in half (both of us are on the agreement). I am not claiming any benefits myself.

I will definitely ask if I can go on their behalf because that would be so much easier.

We might not be entitled to the housing benefit in that case but I thought it was worth mentioning the rent increase as they have sent us the details through the journal.

It maybe an idea to become this persons appointee? that way you are allowed to attend their appointments on their behalf.

Usually with UC, if they require more proof then they can ask them to come in, they cant force them as they have LCWRA but they can also reject any housing benefit element due to insufficient evidence. Any changes in living arrangements (change of address, increase/decrease in rent, etc.) cause a change and they have to investigate.

Eeve

Tronster said:

Eeve said:

poppy123456 said:

You can ask them to send a link so you can send what's needed. If they refuse this are you able to attend the local job centre on their behalf to give the proof?

Are you claiming for your share of the rent or is this person liable for all of the rent?

Just so that you're aware when claiming UC then rent is paid as part of this known as housing element. Housing benefit is a completely different benefit. When claiming UC you would only be claiming housing benefit if you're either living in supported or temporary housing.

I see! We are paying the rent in half (both of us are on the agreement). I am not claiming any benefits myself.

I will definitely ask if I can go on their behalf because that would be so much easier.

We might not be entitled to the housing benefit in that case but I thought it was worth mentioning the rent increase as they have sent us the details through the journal.

It maybe an idea to become this persons appointee? that way you are allowed to attend their appointments on their behalf.

Usually with UC, if they require more proof then they can ask them to come in, they cant force them as they have LCWRA but they can also reject any housing benefit element due to insufficient evidence. Any changes in living arrangements (change of address, increase/decrease in rent, etc.) cause a change and they have to investigate.

That's brilliant. Do you think I can ask them in journal notes to turn me into an apointee?

I can easily rectify all of the documents for the housing element perk, it's just that they keep on asking for the same form to be filled in and not leaving any specific notes.

"They cant force them as they have LCWRA but they can also reject any housing benefit element due to insufficient evidence"

I spoke to benefit adviser at my work and she re-confirmed this which is a huge relief because I thought they were forcing the person I'm looking after (my parent essentially) to go to job centre. They need my assistance going everywhere and I can't just take random time off work whenever they feel like calling them in.

poppy123456

You should only become someones appointee if they are mentally incapable or severely disabled. When becoming an appointee, you will be responsible for their whole claim, which means receiving their money on their behalf and acting in their best interests with that money. You will also be responsible for filling forms and attending appointments with them.

There shouldn't be any issues with taking in what's needed to your local Job centre on their behalf.