Universal Credit and backdated pay

TheBlueSnail

I got £800 for two weeks pay tax free. So I was wasn't on a huge wage.

annandale

You've only been awarded the lha rate for your area?

TheBlueSnail

Yes that's right. Every month I have a £160 shortfall in my housing benefit So I have submitted a discrectionary housing payment claim to cover the difference. Hopefully, that will come in and I can at least pay my rent once I can get over this month's problems.

On the council's form for the discretionary claim, it talks about moving to a cheaper flat. I'd rather not because it is safe where I am (I live in Teesside and there are a lot of areas with burglaries and drugs) and I have live here a while and like my neighbours.

That said, if they push me to move to a cheaper flat I am going to think of emigrating. I easily pass all the criteria. I have got my PhD in STEM and was working a short research project for the EU. I was thinking of training to be a teacher but need to work first to pay of some of my student loans. But if this country keeps treating me like this, I'll just be another part of the brain drain.

sammyjammy

What happened to the £800? Can you not use that to pay your rent this month?

annandale

I assume last months rent was paid with the wage. Council and ha landlords bill rent in arrears. I pay my rent two weeks in arrears.

poppy12345

TheBlueSnail wrote: »

Yes that's right. Every month I have a £160 shortfall in my housing benefit So I have submitted a discrectionary housing payment claim to cover the difference. Hopefully, that will come in and I can at least pay my rent once I can get over this month's problems.

On the council's form for the discretionary claim, it talks about moving to a cheaper flat. I'd rather not because it is safe where I am (I live in Teesside and there are a lot of areas with burglaries and drugs) and I have live here a while and like my neighbours.

That said, if they push me to move to a cheaper flat I am going to think of emigrating. I easily pass all the criteria. I have got my PhD in STEM and was working a short research project for the EU. I was thinking of training to be a teacher but need to work first to pay of some of my student loans. But if this country keeps treating me like this, I'll just be another part of the brain drain.

Don't build your hopes up in getting that DHP. You may not have any choice but to move somewhere cheaper. They don't give DHPs to everyone. £160 is a lot of extra money just because you think it's a nice area with nice neighbours, that more than likely won't work with them.

annandale

Some people don't have the funds to physically move even if they found a cheaper flat to rent.

Speaking as someone who is on uc I'd advise trying to get work, even if it's zero hours. You'll lose 63p in every pound you earn if you don't get an in work allowance.

I'm in an area where rents are low because I live in an area that's not particularly great so my rent is covered. My rent without dhp is 215, I also get dhp for bedroom tax because the councils get money from the Scottish government to pay peoples bedroom tax

I sympathise. It's a hard benefit to be on and that's only part of it, the issue with rent arrears.

poppy12345

I sympathise too and was hit by the bedroom tax last year myself. I lived in an adapted house at the time because of my disability. I applied for DHP and got refused. Working wasn't an option for me. I moved house in the end because it was still cheaper to move than to have to find the extra money every month.

annandale

You also need to sort out council tax reduction as well.