Advice

amanda760

hello I recently had a claim review because I added another child for child benefits which I didn’t add to my uc journal so I think this is what initiated it all. They then asked me to upload my tenancy agreement which again I hadn’t reported the change in my rent (which had changed a few months prior). I am sharing a two bed flat and I’m in one of the rooms with my three children. After review which was a telephone call asking me questions about savings and bills etc even though my rent had gone up the decided that my housing allowance will remain the same. I’m assuming it’s because they think I’ve managed this long without more I’m not sure. I’ve been reading online and I can see I’m entitled to either a two bed or three bed flat, which I now want to look for. My question is if I have recently had a claim review and they decided they would not increase my housing allowance, if I move in the next month to a two bedroom flat and then update my journal with the new tendency details is it possible they will refuse to pay the price increase? It would be a significantly higher amount of rent as moving from one shared room in flat to two bedroom flat.

Kimi87

For private rental UC Housing Element will pay a maximum linked to your LHA rate which often doesn't cover the whole rent.

You can calculate your maximum entitlement using the links below.

https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/bedroomcalculator.aspx

https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/

Once you've moved you then report your new address and new rent amount via the Report a Change section on your UC Journal.

When claiming UC one of the commitments you agree to is keeping them updated of any relevant changes of circumstance.

There shouldn't be any difficulties in getting your maximum LHA rate paid.

If there is, you can ask them to look again at their decision not to pay the maximum allowance

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/problems-with-your-payment/challenging-a-universal-credit-decision-mandatory-consideration/