Hi, my name is Idontunderstandus! Rent increase has been taken from Transitional Protection

Idontunderstandus
Idontunderstandus Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener
edited May 13 in Universal Credit (UC)

Hi all, I hope you can help me to understand how this U/C Migration works please. I Migrated from Housing Benefit and ESA in November last year to U/C. My rent increased in April, I live in a Council Flat, and now U/C are saying the difference in the rent has to come out of the Transitional Amount I receive even though the amount of the rent increase is still under the rent price cap. I am so confused. Could anyone please tell me if this is true? I thought I was meant to be protected by the Transitional Amount as they stated I wouldn't be any worse off. Yet only 6 months on I am already worse off.

Comments

  • Ranald
    Ranald Online Community Member Posts: 1,281 Championing

    The tp erodes over time. An increase in the housing element would reduce the tp by the same amount.

  • Idontunderstandus
    Idontunderstandus Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener

    Hi Ranald, thank you so much for relying to me. I hope you don't mind me asking you, I'll probably sound stupid, but why are they allowed to do this? I will end up with no Transitional Amount over time. They told me I couldn't be worse off yet I already am. I am in receipt of all the highest levels of ESA payments. Would you be so kind as to give me a short version of how this works because I'm lost? 🙏

  • Ranald
    Ranald Online Community Member Posts: 1,281 Championing

    I wouldn't like to pretend i'm any kind of expert, and I'm in the same boat as you.

    If you were to receive a higher rate of benefit elsewhere, it will reduce your tp by the same amount - rent increase, having a child, change to your benefit rate etc.

    https://www.gov.uk/guidance/transitional-protection-if-you-receive-a-migration-notice-letter
  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 5,910 Championing

    Transitional Protection is added if your total UC award is lower than legacy benefits, so at the time of transfer you aren't worse off.

    This does erode over time as other elements go up or new elements are added.

    It's how TP is designed to work.

    You'd have to ask the person who designed it this way as to why.

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