Housing benefit

Paulbee1122

Hi guys. I have been waiting 6 weeks for my housing benefit to be verified. I got a letter on Tuesday stating I'm entitled and now verified. I have no payment added to my journel. But my rent is due tmr the 30th. What happens next as all this waiting is crazy. I have put 4 journel messages but they seemed to have been ignored.

poppy123456

You mention housing benefit but then also mention a journal. There's no journal for housing benefit but there is for Universal Credit. When claiming UC your rent will be covered through this known as housing element, unless you're living in either supported or temporary housing. Housing benefit and housing element are completely different.

Is this a new claim for Universal Credit? If so then yes it's normal for it to take quite a few weeks for them to verify your rent, if you're renting from either social or council housing. What date is your usual UC payment please?

Paulbee1122

Yes I am on universal credit. And a new claim been open 8 weeks. My uc was due on the 39th so I got paid on Friday. But not the housing element. I did get a letter via my journal on Tuesday saying my housing element has been verified. So I'm confused why this was not added to my payment on Friday. Thank you for your reply.

Paulbee1122

Should read payment due on the 30th sorry.

poppy123456

As it's a new claim it's not unusual for your housing element not to be verified in time for your first payment. This isn't the fault of UC but your landlord not confirming your rent in time. They will need to recalculate your statement and then pay what is owed. I would expect this to be done sometime this coming week.

For the avoidance of doubt for anyone reading this, when you submit a claim for UC your first payment is 1 month and 6 days later, (if entitled) not 8 weeks.

Paulbee1122

I didn't get my first month as I had my month in hand payment from my ex employment. So you are correct it is usually 5 weeks for 1st payment. Thank you my mind is at rest that I will receive this week.

poppy123456

Ah so you claimed UC before you received your final earnings from your employer, this does explain why you waited so long.

For anyone reading this if you claim UC for the first time, it's always better to claim after you receive your final earnings because otherwise your first payment could be reduced to zero through earnings.

When you put a message onto your journal did you put it under the payment section? If you didn't then I'd advise you to do that.

Paulbee1122

I put it under payment and work coach. I applied the day after I was dismissed from my job due to ill health. I will ger there but it's been stressful. My pip finally got accepted after my tribunal so this should cover myself until I'm well enough to work full time. For reference I'm 52 and this is the 1st time I have ever claimed a penny. I know the dwp are overrun and I do understand slight delays. Again Poppy thank you for your replys.

poppy123456

You're welcome. Are you also claiming New style ESA?. The ESA will be deducted in full from any UC entitlement.

To be entitled to payments you need the correct NI contributions from tax years 2021/22 and 2022/23. Although there's no financial gain, it's definitely worth claiming it because it's not means tested like UC is so capital/savings and pensions of up to £85/week and a working partners earnings are all ignored. You will also receive class 1 NI credits but for UC it's just class 3. Many people wish they had claimed it in the past but when they realised it's now too late.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance You will only need one work capability assessment and any decision made will apply to both ESA and UC.

Paulbee1122

No I'm not claiming it. I didn't know about it but will take a look. At the moment I couldn't do a full time job. Like today my pain has been substantial. I didn't fall asleep until 6am.and woke up at 2pm. This illness has just come out of the blue. I have progressive arthritis, fibromiologa and lupus. So my pain is terrible when they flare up.

poppy123456

If you're currently working you won't be able to claim New style ESA if you're working 16 hours or more per week. If it's under 16 hours you can claim it providing your earnings are not more than £183.50/week.