UC housing

stan14

Hi everyone, I would appreciate if someone can help me here.

My query is about an increased payment to my housing benefit.

I have been claiming UC since April 2023 since this I was paid £110 towards my housing cost but this month they paid me £650, I asked on my journal but no reply.

I have been awarded PIP on 24th Feb 2024 and have been paid backpayment from September 2023, is there any connection between this ? And if so am I entitled to any backpay of my housing cost ?

OverlyAnxious

Hi,

If you're under 35 and living alone, then getting a Daily Living PIP award increases your LHA from shared rate up to 1-bedroom rate. Could that have happened in your case?

stan14

@OverlyAnxious

Yes I am under 35 living alone and yes it might be LHA, and if it is the case, am i entitled to any backpay? a

OverlyAnxious

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1014258#Comment_1014258

Yes, you should be entitled to backpay up to the date of you PIP award in that case.

You can put your post code into this website to check the difference between shared rate and 1-bed rate in your area.

Search for Local Housing Allowance rates by postcode or local authority : DirectGov - LHA Rates

stan14

@OverlyAnxious thanks for your quick reply.

stan14

Hello again,

Just a little question about this backpay, do I need to make UC aware of it or do they do it by themselves?

OverlyAnxious

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1014446#Comment_1014446

They should recalculate the award over previous months automatically and then send you a letter about the backpayment. If you haven't heard anything within a week or two, and this increase is definitely due to the LHA change from shared to 1 bed rate, then I would recommend putting a polite note in the journal to give them a nudge.

stan14

I will do as you said.

@OverlyAnxious thanks for your help.