Uc mitigation rent

autisticdad91

Sorry if already been asked but I couldn't find anything on it.

So I've done my mitigation today and it says It averages 5 weeks to first payment. It also says they pay for the next 2 weeks housing benefit. So does that mean I will have to find 3 weeks worth of rent? It's really stressing me out as that will be £600/£800 if it takes an extra week to payment.

Or do I let myself go into rent arrears? Does UC backpack?

Thank you

poppy123456

When migrating to UC as part of managed migration your housing benefit will continue for 2 weeks and then stop.

Your first UC payment will be 1 month and 6 days after you submitted your claim. Unless payment date falls on a weekend or a bank holiday and then you'll be paid on the Friday before.

When you receive your payment it will be for 1 month because UC is paid 1 month in arrears.

You can ask for an advance payment for UC but this will need to be repaid back and your future UC payments will be reduced.

Have yo actually submitted your claim? If so what date did you submit it?

autisticdad91

HI thank you for the reply, I submitted the claim today. And this is what I'm struggling to understand the logic in leaving people for 3 weeks with no rent assistance. I don't want to use an advance if that means I'm going to have to pay it back the following month.

The whole mitigation seems poorly thought out.

Thank you

poppy123456

The reason for the delay is because UC is a monthly benefit, so you only receive 1 payment per month. As you submitted your claim today then your assessment periods will be 20th to 19th of every month and payment date will be 26th of every month, unless it falls on a weekend. Therefore your first payment will be 26th September.

If you asked for an advance payment then you would need to repay all of it the following month. They would take a smaller amount each month based over 2 year ( I think) until it's repaid back.

Are you claiming any other benefits other than housing benefit and carers allowance? Income Support maybe? If it's Income Support then this will also continue for 2 weeks.

autisticdad91

Thank you for the reply

My partner and I claim

.child tax and working tax

. Child benefit

Carers allowance

Dla for disabled son

I am classed as self employed but unfortunately I do not meet the self employed criteria for UC and although my disabled son requires 2 carers (one for night which is me and one for day which is my wife) Uc states only one parent is allowed to be a carer so it's causing a lot of stress as I carnot go back to work full time.

poppy123456

Carers allowance will be deducted in full from your UC. Did your partner make sure they reported being a carer? Carers element will be included in your UC if they did.

Sorry but what do you mean you don't meet the criteria for self employed for UC? You will need to attend a gateway appointment with a work coach to discuss your self employed work. If found to be gainfully self employed you will have a 12 month start up period where the Minimum Income floor will not apply to you. See link.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-self-employment-quick-guide/universal-credit-and-self-employment-quick-guide

When you attend your appointment I'd advise you to mention your son needing 2 carers. They maybe able to apply some discretion.

autisticdad91

Thank you

My self employment is completing university studies/experiments and very occasional tutoring, Which tax credits count as self employment as I earnt money and kept records but because I can't guarantee hours worked and uc don't see it as 'steady' it doesn't count.

It kills me not being able to work (I worked for 18 years straight from the age of 16 before my youngest started having issues) but I'm lucky if I have any hours free or energy left in a week.

I'm hoping they are understanding about our situation and can see I'm trying but this changing over is causing so much stress.

autisticdad91

Yes My partner did report she was a carer.

Thank you

poppy123456

You will still need to report that you're self employed, did you do that? A work coach will then decide whether you're gainfully self employed or not.

Even if you're not gainfully self employed you will still need to report your earnings and expenses on the last day of each assessment period.

If you're not gainfully self employed, I hope you have an understanding work coach.

As an after thought, do either yourself or your partner have any health conditions which make working difficult? If you do then you can report your health conditions and provide a fit note. (previously known as sick note) You will then be referred for a work capability assessment.