My first Universal Credit payment is wrong, can I have advice please?

Thank you, that's all really helpful.

I'll add a journal note about the LCWRA element. Yes my ESA award did include severe disability premium.

I gave my housing cost at the start of my application, but there was a delay providing evidence as I needed a letter from my landlord who was busy. When you asked about the start date did you mean when I moved in? That was 4 years ago. I can't recall the start date of the whole application, evidence of rent costs meant it took about a month from start to finish, which may have caused problems, but couldn't be helped. The ID check also took a while.

Thank you.

George.

Thanks again for your help, it's very much appreciated as I'm new to Universal Credit and finding it complicated.

I'll mention housing costs in the journal note too, thanks.

There's another issue I'm confused about. The day I received the £400.14 payment there was also a Journal message titled 'Other Benefits Affecting Your Universal Credit'. It gave a list of other benefits and said 'Our records show you are not getting any of these benefits'. After the list it says 'If you are actually getting one or more of these benefits you must contact the office you claim them from etc.'

One of the benefits in the list was Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), which I'm pretty sure I mentioned receiving in my Universal Credit application. ESA comes from the DWP, so does Universal Credit. Does that suggest Universal Credit haven't heard from another part of the DWP yet that I receive ESA, and also does it perhaps explain the payment of £400.14? My main query is please, do I need to inform the part of the DWP that gives me ESA that I'm now receiving Universal Credit? I'm of course happy to do this, but I don't know who to contact as it was a few years ago I applied, and I'm a bit surprised they don't notify another part of the DWP themselves.

Lastly, the list of benefits shown did not include Housing Benefit, which I get from my local council. Will I need to inform the council when I start getting housing costs with my Universal Credit payments?

Thanks very much again!

Thanks so much for your advice, it's really helpful. I just read through our messages again and realised I didn't mention one issue, sorry! I was probably trying to keep my first message as simple as I could despite it being complicated!

I got a letter a couple of days ago from UC saying I've been paid more Universal Credit than I'm entitled to, about £900. I'm not sure, but I think this may be because some of my details were late and my ID check was done at home which was postponed once. so the income Related ESA was paid longer than normal. The letter says they will take the money back in instalments. I discussed it with my family today and they think I should pay the money back straight away rather than instalments to settle the matter, which I might do. I just wondered if you had advice on that please? Sorry to ask another question 😞 

Thanks very much.

Thank you! You're awesome!

In your first reply you mentioned when the LCWRA element is added I'll get a letter about underpayment. I wondered if the overpayment and underpayment might cancel each other out roughly? But according to those websites Universal Credit can only take up to 15% of your standard allowance (£400) which is £60, so it'll take 18 months to pay back the £900. Is that right please? - I think I'd rather pay it back quickly as I don't like being in debt.

Thanks 

Sorry, 15 months not 18. My maths isn't great :)

Thank you for taking time our of your weekend to help me, it's much appreciated!

Hello, I'm sorry to raise another query, but there’s a problem.

My housing costs £850 per month. The decision last week awarded me £920.83 for housing. I’ve already had a large Universal Credit overpayment and underpayment, so I wasn’t that concerned just pleased it was approved. It was an underpayment and late so I thought maybe a couple of extra days were included, or to do with the second bedroom maybe? 

I answered no to using an extra bedroom due to my disability. - A couple of hours later I received the decision for the second month of Universal Credit, and I’ve again been awarded £920.83 for housing, not £850. After some thought and maths I think they are giving me what works out as £850 every four weeks, rather than monthly. Housing benefit is paid every 4 weeks so perhaps I gave them the wrong payment period? My tenancy agreement says per month though which they were sent.

My query is how to resolve this simply and quickly please? The decision maker for housing left messages on my journal page, is it too late to message him again perhaps? Would it be read by the same person? Or should I just leave a message on my journal page for my case worker? I’m asking for £70 less per month, but would prefer to resolve it the simplest and quickest way as I find this whole Universal Credit process a bit stressful.

Thanks

Thanks for your message.

My tenancy agreement is for £850 per calendar month. I agree the mix up is over ppm or every 4 weeks, but they are paying me £70 ish too much. I'd like to know how to resolve this the simplest way please? Could I message the housing decision maker again 5 days later? Would he receive it, or a colleague maybe? If I left a message on my Journal page for my case worker could they make this change?

Thank you