Hi, my name is marj1943!

marj1943
marj1943 Online Community Member Posts: 2 Listener
in Start here and say hello!

Housing benefit when trying to claim ESA and then PIP and then up comes universal credit and my friend now finds that he owes two months rent cause he didn't get housing benefit and has been ill since the middle of December - he's now in the category that he doesn't have to have interview to get him.back to work but I'm sure he's going to have a breakdown with all the upset and not knowing how much he is getting out of anything so can't budget

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  • marj1943
    marj1943 Online Community Member Posts: 2 Listener

    Sorry I should have said hello and can anybody help.my friend when he finds himself in this,sad,situation

  • Mary_Scope
    Mary_Scope Posts: 2,245 Scope Online Community Children and Family Specialists
    edited June 26

    Hi @marj1943 and a warm welcome to the community!

    Sorry to hear what has happened to your friend, it sounds very stressful but it is good he has you on his corner trying to help!

    From what you described it sounds like your friend likely lost Housing Benefit when he moved onto Universal Credit as rent is no longer paid separately but included in UC under the “housing element.”

    He should now log into his UC journal and request a backdate of the housing element and explain that he’s been unwell since December as well.

    He can also apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment through his local council to help cover the rent arrears.

    It may also be really helpful to contact Citizens Advice about what has happened and let his landlord know what has happened and ask for more time.

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