Pro rata housing payment for 3 week period only, prior to assessment

johnjosef · September 11

I believe there may have been some confusion in my Universal Credit decision, and I’d like an independent opinion.

My situation is:

My UC assessment period was 8 August – 7 September 2025.
I was liable for rent and occupying my home until 28 August 2025.
My UC award for that period included £0 housing costs element.

In my understanding:

Regulation 25 (Schedules 2 and 3) of the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 confirms that where a claimant is liable for rent and occupying the property, they should be treated as entitled to the housing costs element.
ADM Chapter F2 (Housing Costs Element), paragraphs F2002–F2015, explains that housing costs are included for each day liability exists in the assessment period, not solely based on the final day of that period.

Since I was liable for 8–28 August 2025 (21 days), I believe I should have received housing support for that part of the assessment period — around £359 — but I did not.

My question is:
➡️ Based on the regulations and guidance above, should Universal Credit have awarded me a partial housing element for the days I was still liable for rent, or are they correct that entitlement only depends on liability on the last day of the assessment period?

johnjosef · September 14

Nobody got any info?!I thought there were specialists on here.

Kimi87 · September 14

We are all amateurs on Scope.

It is my understanding that the circumstances on the last day of AP are the most important. As you had no housing costs on that date you were not entitled to any Housing Element.

You can delve a bit deeper with the aid of a trained benefits advisor.

https://advicefinder.turn2us.org.uk/

Albus_Scope · September 14

Hey @johnjosef Apologies that no one had been able to answer your question, but as Kimi has said, other than the Scope team, people are here in their free time, we do not have experts, just kind people with a fair bit of lived experience. 😊

As Kimi has also suggested, if you require in depth help, it may be best to speak to Citizens advice or similar.

Lauren29 · September 14

The Universal Credit award is calculated on the last day of each assessment period and is based on the claimant’s known circumstances on that date. You are not entitled to the Housing Element as on the last day of the assessment period you had no rent costs.

Pro rata housing payment for 3 week period only, prior to assessment

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