UC housing underpayment?

pinecones
pinecones Online Community Member Posts: 2 Listener
in Universal Credit (UC)

Hi, I've been on UC since I moved over from ESA late 2017. I'm also on high rate PIP for both elements, and have been since then + UC were made aware of it. I also have had LCWRA this entire time too, as well as a carer element.

We moved to our 2 bedroom flat in early 2018. The rent is £600. It says on our statements that we can only be given £450 due to LHA - it has said this since 2018 also.

I clocked a few weeks ago that the £450 has never changed. I then researched the LHA - it's around £450 for a 1 bedroom, but for a 2 bedroom it's around £600.

Surely we should have been paid the LHA for 2 bedrooms, not 1, over the last 5-6 years? Or am I incorrect here?

If anyone can advise me on this, and also advise me on how to approach this matter, I would seriously appreciate this.

I move in a week, so this is giving me extra stress at the moment.

Comments

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 7,853 Championing
    PIP alone doesn't give automatic entitlement to an extra bedroom.
    The criteria for getting an extra bedroom paid for under LHA:

    https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/help-if-on-a-low-income/housing-benefit/how-an-extra-bedroom-affects-your-housing-benefit/check-if-youre-allowed-an-extra-bedroom-for-housing-benefit/
  • rubin16
    rubin16 Scope Member Posts: 1,290 Championing
    edited March 2024
    I don't know how housing benefit works, but i'm on UC LCWRA and in a 1 bedroom flat and my rent is £600 per month, and this gets fully paid by UC.


  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,456 Championing
    pinecones said:

    We moved to our 2 bedroom flat in early 2018. The rent is £600. It says on our statements that we can only be given £450 due to LHA - it has said this since 2018 also.


    I'm assuming that "we" is your partner? If you have no one else living with you then 1 bedroom is correct. You can check the LHA rates here.https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/

    The link above mentions an extra bedroom for overnight care. It's also possible to claim an extra bedroom if you can't share a room with your partner. More information here. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/calculating-your-bedroom-entitlement
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,456 Championing
    rubin16 said:
    I don't know how housing benefit works, but i'm on UC LCWRA and in a 1 bedroom flat and my rent is £600 per month, and this gets fully paid by UC.


    Pinecones is also claiming UC which includes housing element. Housing benefit has very similar rules to housing benefit, though there are some differences, for example non dependent deductions are different for both of them. 

    You are very lucky that your housing element covers the majority of your rent. The majority of people have a shortfall of rent when renting from a private landlord. 
  • pinecones
    pinecones Online Community Member Posts: 2 Listener
    poppy123456 said:
    pinecones said:

    We moved to our 2 bedroom flat in early 2018. The rent is £600. It says on our statements that we can only be given £450 due to LHA - it has said this since 2018 also.


    I'm assuming that "we" is your partner? If you have no one else living with you then 1 bedroom is correct. You can check the LHA rates here.https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/

    The link above mentions an extra bedroom for overnight care. It's also possible to claim an extra bedroom if you can't share a room with your partner. More information here. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/calculating-your-bedroom-entitlement
    Yes, I've always had a joint claim with my husband. We've always had the carer element as well as LWCRA on the claim

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