Hello everyone, I am Adam and I need some help with PIP and housing with UC

adam4been

I recently had severe down turn to my health with multiple issues so I had to stop my self employment work, I was on a housing benefit from local council when I applied for PIP earlier this year. My PIP was awarded basic rate on both daily living and mobility. 

Now I received a notice of migration to Universal credit my question is I have read it somewhere that if you received PIP your housing benefit account with local council do not get transferred over to Universal Credit as they treat the property you are living in as SUPPORTED PROPERTY is that correct ? Please let me have your expert’s advice.

poppy123456

Where did you read that from? It's not true or correct. PIP and housing benefit are 2 completely different benefits. Claiming PIP doesn't automatically mean you live in supported housing. 

Supported housing is where you receive support, care and supervision from a landlord. You can see some information here about what supported housing is. https://www.mrassociates.org/knowledge-base/specified-accommodation/specified-accommodation-57cd7b0437754/what-is-supported-accommodation

Apart from PIP and housing benefit, what other benefits do you claim exactly?

adam4been

Many thanks for your swift reply Poppy and thank you for correcting me. 

We are a family of 4 with 2 underage kids. We were in receipt of tax credits and housing whereas PIP just awarded last month.

just for the clarity my local council agree to do some updating to the property we live due to my mobility needs hence why I was under the impression. 

poppy123456

Thank you. This means you're not living in Support housing, so your rent will be paid in with UC. You will need to make sure you claim Universal Credit (UC) by the date stated in your letter, if you don't then your Tax credits will end anyway and your housing benefit will end 2 weeks later.

If your health condition limits your capability to work then when you claim UC you will need to make sure you report your health condition. You must provide a fit note (formally known as sick note) within 7 days of that. You will then be referred for a work capability assessment. You must also make sure there are no gaps in your fit notes. There's lots of information here for this. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-if-you-have-a-disability-or-health-condition-quick-guide/universal-credit-if-you-have-a-disability-or-health-condition#:~:text=When%20you%20make%20a%20claim,Work%20Capability%20Assessment%20(%20WCA%20).

As your PIP includes the daily living part then your partner will be able to claim Carers element of UC for looking after you. When they claim they must report being your carer. As a carer they will have no work commitments. 

For the avoidance of doubt, those living in supported housing can still claim UC but their rent will be covered through housing benefit, not through UC. (this doesn't apply to you) 

Jimm_Alumni

Hi @adam4been, welcome to the scope community The DWP is migrating everyone that is still on tax credits to Universal Credit this year. That is why you'll have received that migration notice letter. As Poppy says please do apply before that date.

You can read more about Migrating to Universal Credit and possible transitional protection here: Transitional protection and UC | Disability charity Scope UK