How long does challenging a decision on UC take after receiving a statement?

potnoodle

Hello, 

I made a bit of a muddle up with my UC as I failed to report a rent increase in time. My rent increased by £35 and at the time I forgot to report it, but reported it between one and two months late. As I understand it, the rent increase will not affect how much housing element I am paid.

In reporting the rent increase, I struggled uploading the proof (should have been a letter from my landlord and a bill with my home address on it). I had to submit the proof three times before I got it right.

I'm worried though, as in the section where it says "Feedback on proof of housing costs", it just says "Thanks". Unfortunately this was on one of my failed attempts (I had sent a bank statement showing my rent and a bill).

Now I am stressed that they will process the wrong proofs and reject the housing element of my UC claim. If the housing element is rejected and I have to appeal, how long will the appeal take to set right?

My husband is paid 4 weekly, and next month he will be paid twice in one UC period. I save all year to cover the reduced UC I receive once a year. I really cannot afford to not receive my usual UC amount this month (our finances are separate).

I'm wondering if I should message UC before my statement comes through to confirm that I will be receiving the housing element. Sometimes I struggle with IT and communication as well as paranoia, and I can't tell if I'm just being paranoid and if sending them too many messages will annoy someone and result in my payment not being made.

Thank you for reading.

poppy123456

Whether your housing element will cover the whole of your rent will depend on your circumstances. If you’re privately rented then the housing element will based on local housing allowance for your area. Very often the housing element doesn’t cover the whole of your rent.
Are you renting privately or from social housing?
When you report a change of circumstances usually that takes place in the assessment period in which you reported the changes. This means if your housing element can be increased they may not backdate it.
I have a rent increase in March this year and sadly the LHA falls short for me by £35 so I have to cover that shortfall myself.

potnoodle

I'm privately renting - so I do have to top up the rent myself. 

I really hope they accept my proofs and I don't get in trouble over letting them know about the increase too late. I'm aware I can over-think things, so hopefully this is just a case of that.

Sorry for being a bit spammy on the board and thanks again for getting back to me.

poppy123456

If there's a shortfall then yes you will. How many bedrooms you're entitled to will depend on your circumstances.

If you know how many bedrooms you're entitled to then you can check the LHA here. You will need to put your postcode in and how many bedrooms you're entitled to. https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/ Please also be aware that the amount given will be a weekly amount. To calculate it to a monthly amount you times it by 52 and then divide by 12.

You're not spamming at all.

potnoodle

poppy123456 said:

If there's a shortfall then yes you will. 

I'm confused. Do you mean I will get in trouble? 

We have 2 bedrooms, and there are three of us. I usually receive £650 of the housing element and the rent was £795 and is now £825.

poppy123456

No, you won't get into trouble, i meant if there's a shortfall of rent you'll need to pay the extra yourself. . So if there's 3 of you and one is your partner then you're entitled to the 2 bedroom rate of LHA.

As you're only receiving £650 and your rent was £795 then there's already a shortfall of rent, this means you won't receive any increase and you will need to pay that extra rent yourself. Housing element will not cover that increase.

You can still check the link i posted to see how much housing element you're entitled to for the area you live based on 2 bedrooms.

calcotti

No one is saying you are in trouble. All poppy was saying was that if the applicable LHA amount is less than the rent then you have to makeup the shortfall from your other income.

Despite the increase in your rent, your housing element may well remain as £650 if this is the applicable LHA amount.

potnoodle

That's good news that I won't get in trouble. Personally paying the extra rent is fine with me. Thank you both for your help. UC stresses me out so much at times.

poppy123456

Also if there's as there's a shortfall already you didn't need to report the changes because you already receive the maximum amount anyway.

I don't claim UC and my rent is still paid from housing benefit, i didn't report the changes with my increase because there's nothing to report, i already receive the maximum amount.