UC & LHA

james19o6

Hello everyone,
I have a query. My landlord is due to increase my rent. Which I will need to report to UC. When I spoke with UC they said about LHA which I know. However, my current rent even is over the LHA rate but UC still pays me. I am also entiteled for extra room due to my PIP. Also my son is my carer and he is not affected by the LHA too. Can someone please explain as how? I did report this to UC and they said the I didnt over pay its the system. So confused 

calcotti

UC should not be paying you over the LHA if you are renting privately. The applicable LHA amount is determined by the number of bedrooms you are allowed. If you live alone but are allowed an extra room for a carer the applicable LHA is the two bedroom rate. If you are saying that UC are paying you more than this I cannot understand how this is possible,

I am not clear what you mean about your son being exempt from LHA due to being a carer.

james19o6

Me and my son we both receive more than the LHA. I did inform the UC as I thought I am being overpaid and they said that its the system so they dont think I am being overpaid. Thats why I wanted to ask anyone on here 

calcotti

There isn’t enough information to comment further.

If you renting privately (not social housing) your UC housing element should not exceed the LHA which is determined by your post code and the number of bedrooms you are allowed.

poppy123456

You can check what the LHA is for your area here. https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/ Remember it will be a weekly amount that you'll need to convert it to a monthly payment because UC is paid monthly.

james19o6

I did check it states that I shall get 207 weekly but I am receiving 290 a week for my rent according to my statement 

calcotti

To check, the LHA amount you have looked up is for a two bedroom property.

How much is your monthly UC housing element amount?

james19o6

Sorry @calcotti if I am not going to be rude please dont reply to this post. As I did answer your question above if you check. Also, it seems like you dont want to believe me but privately I can even show you my statement. Thank you

poppy123456

james19o6 said:

Sorry @calcotti if I am not going to be rude please dont reply to this post. As I did answer your question above if you check. Also, it seems like you dont want to believe me but privately I can even show you my statement. Thank you

I can only see calcotti trying to help you. Without all the information it's not possible to help you further. It's nothing to do with not believing you.

You said your weekly amount is £290 but calcotti asked what your monthly amount is, it will tell you exactly what the monthly amount is on your journal.

Either way, if you're receiving more than you're entitled to then you will need to put a message on your journal under the payment section and tell them you think the amount is incorrect. All overpayments for UC are repayable, even if it's their error.

james19o6

If you times 4x 290 its simple. So no need to ask I guess. Or keep insistinf 

Also if you read my previous messages. I did let them know and told them that I have been overpaid and they said no the system pays it. Simple @poppy123456

calcotti

james19o6 said:

Sorry @calcotti if I am not going to be rude please dont reply to this post. As I did answer your question above if you check. Also, it seems like you dont want to believe me but privately I can even show you my statement. Thank you

I am just trying to double check the situation. If UC are paying you above the applicable LHA that is a mistake and, as poppy has said, any overpayment is recoverable. You can, if you wish, post an image of your statement with the personal details removed.

poppy123456

james19o6 said:

If you times 4x 290 its simple. So no need to ask I guess. Or keep insistinf

Well, it’s not 4 x £290 because UC is a monthly benefit and there’s more than 4 weeks in a month. 

I’m sorry but no one can help without all the correct information. For this reason, I’m out.

james19o6

@poppy123456 😅😅 please.... come on. My rent is 4x 290 simple that come one its a monthly rent dont tell a month has 5 weeks now poppy

poppy123456

It’s not that simple. There’s 4.3 weeks in a month, not 4 or 5. Is it really that difficult to tell us what the monthly amount is?

calcotti

james19o6 said:

@poppy123456 😅😅 please.... come on. My rent is 4x 290 simple that come one its a monthly rent dont tell a month has 5 weeks now poppy

…but don’t tell me a month is 4 weeks either, if it was there would only be 336 days in a year.

To convert a weekly amount to a monthly amount DWP take the weekly amount by 52 and then divide by 12.

Regardless of any conversation about the Gregorian calendar works the fact is that if UC are indeed paying you above the LHA then you are building up a debt with DWP.

poppy123456

Biblioklept said:

@james19o6 for private rent they don't just do weekly LHA x 4 to work out the monthly UC amount.

They actually calculate it on a daily basis, multiply by 365 and divide by 12. Calcotti and Poppy123456 are asking your monthly amount to help answer your question as it isn't just x4.

That’s not correct. To calculate the monthly rate they multiply the weekly amount by 52 and then divide it by 12. 

calcotti

Biblioklept said:

They actually calculate it on a daily basis, multiply by 365 and divide by 12. Calcotti and Poppy123456 are asking your monthly amount to help answer your question as it isn't just x4.

It isn't done on a daily basis - they take the year as being 52 weeks (364 days). So Hence my earlier reply

calcotti said:
To convert a weekly amount to a monthly amount DWP take the weekly amount by 52 and then divide by 12.

calcotti

Biblioklept said:

Typical!! Another thing they misadvised me over back when I was private renting I was told on 2 occasions that that's how it works!! Thank you both for correcting

Makes no meaningful practical difference in monetary value.