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Does anyone claim housing benefit as part of UC? What costs aren’t covered?

BertieBot

Hello
I know this is really a specific UC question but I can’t find a clear answer online and my anxiety is going into overdrive panicking that UC are going to penalise me in some way.

The Gov website is so vague and unhelpful! I’ve claimed housing benefit since 2022 and been covered for everything except insurance. So rent plus what Orbit (my housing association) classes as a service charge and a separate management charge. Then this year they’ve only acknowledged the rent and service charge. They’ve ignored the management charge which is £240 a year! I can’t afford that. And when I’ve asked on my journal no one’s answered for 3 weeks. I can’t find anything online about management charges or if they may or not be eligible. The gov website just says vaguely they don’t pay for things such as heating or water. I don’t know where to go for help.

Does anyone else have a management charge as part of their housing costs?

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poppy123456

What is the management charge for exactly?

It's also important to mention that if you're claiming UC your rent will be paid as part of this known as housing element. You will only be calming housing benefit if living in either supported or temporary housing.

Housing benefit is a totally different benefit.

BertieBot

Apologies for my wording. It is housing element as part of universal credit. I don’t know how to edit the title to remove the word benefit.

I don’t know what the management charge is for. It’s just always been on the rent statement. This a shared ownership home part owned by Orbit Housing. I’ve only rented privately before so have no previous experience. I thought maybe it was a standard thing with housing associations?

poppy123456

You need to find out what exactly it's for before anyone can try to advise you. There's a list here of eligible and ineligible service charges.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-service-charges-guidance-for-landlords/universal-credit-service-charges-guidance-for-landlords

BertieBot

Thank you @poppy123456
I was unable to find anything with this level of detail so this is very helpful

poppy123456

You’re welcome. It was probably because you were looking for housing benefit, rather than housing element. They are similar but there are some differences.