Overpaid Housing benefit during migration

bentan930
bentan930 Online Community Member Posts: 28 Connected
in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Received a message today that my housing benefit didn’t stop when was supposed to and therefore I’ve been overpaid universal credit housing part. It’s bit over £200 and days deductions will be made from future payments. Anyone else had this situation and how much were deductions ?

I must say majority of migration has been pretty smooth. But the housing part has been very lumpy and confusing. The fact you’re expected to make up a shortfall that’s basically not your fault is just wrong.

Comments

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 5,910 Championing
    edited June 2

    Deductions for debt repayment are usually capped at 15% of your standard allowance.

    https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-out-about-money-taken-off-your-universal-credit-payment#:~:text=Normally%20the%20most%20that%20can,your%20Universal%20Credit%20standard%20allowance

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 4,535 Championing

    I had an overpayment of about £700 Housing Benefit during my migration. I chose to pay mine off in full to get it out of the way.

  • bentan930
    bentan930 Online Community Member Posts: 28 Connected
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1033422#Comment_1033422

    when you standard allowance ? It comes out the hosing part of my payment surely not my other money ?

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 5,910 Championing
    edited June 2

    UC is a benefit made up of different elements.

    All the elements you are entitled to get added up, then any deductions are made from the total award.

    Standard Allowance amounts:

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  • bentan930
    bentan930 Online Community Member Posts: 28 Connected

    I’m really still struggling to understand the housing benefit migration to UC. Because as things stand for me I’m effectively £500 down when I don’t see why I should be.

    My housing benefit went on 12 days longer than the 2 weeks so I have to pay back £230

    And now because of how days work out I’ve missed 2 rent payments £260.


    so that’s near enough £500.

    Basically is this the same for everyone. There’s effectively a 3 week gap you have to make up out your own pocket unless your landlord is happy to let you get 3 weeks behind then pay.

    Also is the housing part of universal credit actually back dated ? If it is I don’t get how this works. Because the payment you get is for a month but the initial gap is 3 weeks.

    If it’s not backdated how do they expect people without the means to cover the 3 week gap ? Why doesn’t housing benefit just continue for the 5 weeks.

    I’m also now getting hassled by council tax. Surely all these parts of the migration should be better coordinated.

  • bentan930
    bentan930 Online Community Member Posts: 28 Connected

    ok so I’ve just read that the housing part is backdated. Which again is bit weird as the gap is 3 weeks but the payment is a month.

    So basically you’re at the mercy of your landlord. If they won’t let your account go into debt for 3 weeks then you will be personally at a loss.

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 4,535 Championing

    All of UC is technically backdated every time. You get a payment after the 5th week to cover the first 4 weeks.

    There isn't actually a gap, and if you do pay to cover the 3 weeks during migration, you get that money back from the first payment. The only issue here is cashflow, nothing is actually lost, it's just not necessarily available as early as you'd like it to be.

    Council tax is managed by the council, not DWP, so experiences will vary with that during the UC migration. For most people their council tax reduction stays the same afterwards, but not for everyone.

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