UC/Housing benefit

easytiger

Good evening everyone. I am in the process of having my savings calculated for updating capital to get the cost of living payment disregarded for my Universal Credit claim I will be uploading my bank statements for the year on Friday. I am also getting housing benefit and council tax support as I live in supported accommodation should I wait for out come from UC before informing local council about my savings

Emilee

I would recommend making them aware as soon as possible, as they will need to do their own calculations. The only advantage of waiting for the UC outcome is that you could send them UC's calculations, which might help with understanding the disregards. However, I would expect the council to recalculate it again anyway.

Jimm_Scope

I agree with Emilee here @easytiger, it's best to inform the council straight away. If you are unsure how it could all affect you, you could try to see a benefits adviser at your local citizens advice bureau.

OverlyAnxious

When I uploaded my savings to UC, they must have sent the figure directly to my council as I then received a letter from the council saying that my council tax reduction had been recalculated.

easytiger

I have just phoned my council about my claim they where already aware of my savings that I have told Universal Credit about, the lady I spoke to said because I am on UC they automatically get told. I receive LCWRA element so I am in vulnerable group so the saving amount my local council scheme use is between £10000 to £16000 to calculate council tax support so for every £250 over £10000 I will have to pay £1. I explained that the cost of living payments to be disregarded is being calculated this month by UC so the savings I have will be reduced under this so she said the will probably be informed but it does not always happen so keep my eye on the ball and let them know. As for housing benefit that should be fine the limit is £16000 on that.

Jimm_Scope

Still best I think to make sure it's all covered I think! Now you know the council knows, while before it was an unknown.