housing benefit refused.

Bitter797
Bitter797 Community Member Posts: 2 Listener
in Benefits and income

Hi, my name is Max, and I hope you can help me. I haven't updated my Universal Credit tenancy agreement for two years. When I tried to update it, Universal Credit told me that I must separate my utility bills from my actual rent. My landlord is very supportive, and my entire monthly payment currently goes toward housing, so I do not pay separately for utilities. The only utilities used in the house are electricity and water—there is no gas, and services like Wi-Fi or a TV licence are not provided or included. However, my caseworker asked in my journal how much I pay toward bills.

I am confused about whether I should write '£0' or enter an estimated amount like £25 or £30 a month. Universal Credit has already refused my housing update twice because my tenancy agreement states 'all bills included.' What is the correct step to take? Should my landlord write a letter to Universal Credit confirming a breakdown between rent and the electricity/water charges? I rent a room in a shared house and live with a severe mental health disability, so I would really appreciate your guidance to make sure my claim is not refused again.

Comments

  • Santaslove
    Santaslove Community Member Posts: 3 Listener

    Hi Max,

    The housing benefits team needs a specific amount that covers rent only, and this is because they’re not allowed to give you housing benefit to cover your bills, only rent. They need evidence in writing what t


    I think the simplest solution would be to have your landlord write a letter that shows how much of the fee is for rent and how much is for utilities. I don’t think you need to have a full breakdown of the different utilities, just the specific amount that goes on rent. This seems like the best solution if your tenancy agreement states that utilities are included.


    If your rent agreement doesn’t state that utilities are included then you have other options, like stating you have no water/electricity bills.

    If you are able to get to a council hub/library and speak to an advisor, they will be able to give you some help with getting the right evidence you need to provide and they have a better idea of what the housing benefits team will accept. I found this helpful when I had a similar situation with providing evidence for council tax benefit.

  • Mary_Scope
    Mary_Scope Posts: 5,968 Scope Online Community Children and Family Specialists

    Hi @Bitter797 and a warm welcome to the community from me!

    This sounds quite complex and I wouldn't want to advise the wrong information so it may be worth contacting a trained benefits adviser who should know the the next steps and what the best way to answer it 😊

    A warm welcome to you too @Santaslove!

    Lovely to have you both here😊

  • Mary_Scope
    Mary_Scope Posts: 5,968 Scope Online Community Children and Family Specialists

    Hi @Bitter797

    Just popping along to let you know you have a couple of replies on your other post about this topic😊

    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/149192/housing-benefit-refused
  • Emilee
    Emilee Community Member Posts: 159 Empowering

    Hello Max (@Bitter797). I had a similar case recently and I believe UC should be paying either your eligible rent or the LHA, whichever is lower. We used this template (edit where appropriate for your situation) in the journal which helped:

    "I am asking for my housing costs to be considered.

    I am a private tenant and my tenancy agreement states that my rent is £xxxx per month, with bills included. The only utilities included are electricity and water.

    I have my own bedroom and share the kitchen and bathroom with XX other separate households. I am liable to pay the full £xxxx monthly rent to my private landlord.

    I understand that Universal Credit does not cover personal utility costs such as electricity and water. However, I understand from the DWP guidance for private rented sector tenants that the total rent and service charges do not need to be separately identifiable, and that DWP uses the lower of the total rent or the applicable Local Housing Allowance rate.

    Please could you therefore reassess my housing costs based on my £xxxx monthly rent liability and my tenancy agreement.

    If you are refusing to include my housing costs, please provide the specific regulation or guidance that requires my landlord to provide a separate breakdown of the £xxxx rent into rent, electricity and water for shared accomodation."

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