Moving to an Universal Credit Area

gotnodosh

Hi, hope someone can help.

I am thinking of moving to a new area. I currently receive Child and working tax credits and housing benefit. The new area I want to move to has started going over to Universal Credit. How will this work as I will still claim tax credits but will I have to move on to Universal Credit instead because I will be claiming Housing Benefit too? Very confused. Thanks in advance.

Icequeen99

If it was only tax credits, it wouldn't make any difference and you would stay on tax credits. However, as you also claim housing benefit, if you are moving to another local authority area, that will mean a new claim for housing benefit and in full service UC areas that isn't possible.

That means to get support with your rent you have to claim UC and when you do, your tax credits will end.

IQ

gotnodosh

Thank you. So the likelihood of me being without any money for months are quite high cos UC is such a farce or has it improved yet?

poppy12345

gotnodosh wrote: »

Thank you. So the likelihood of me being without any money for months are quite high cos UC is such a farce or has it improved yet?

It's 6 weeks from first applying to first payment.

gotnodosh

Sorry for sounding dumb, so I will receive tax credits until I receive UC or will they seize as soon as I apply for UC?

mandco

How many children do you have? UC is currently only for new claimants with 2 children or less if you have 3 or more you can stay on tax credits even if you live in a UC area.

If you do have to claim UC then your tax/working credit payments will stop

annandale

You have to inform tax credits that you are claiming UC, if you dont you'll have an overpayment that you'll need to pay back.

If you are on WTC it should be five weeks as if you transfer over from a legacy benefit such as WTC you dont need to wait the 7 day wait period at the beginning of your claim.

gotnodosh

I only have one �� Thanks, another spanner in the works ��

gotnodosh

annandale wrote: »

You have to inform tax credits that you are claiming UC, if you dont you'll have an overpayment that you'll need to pay back.

If you are on WTC it should be five weeks as if you transfer over from a legacy benefit such as WTC you dont need to wait the 7 day wait period at the beginning of your claim.

Will tax credits not know if I claim UC? If that's the case then I would probably wait to tell them and pay the overpayment back when UC is paid?

annandale

Yes, they probably will and your claim will be cancelled automatically. Mine was. But thats not been the case for everyone.

Icequeen99

mandco wrote: »

How many children do you have? UC is currently only for new claimants with 2 children or less if you have 3 or more you can stay on tax credits even if you live in a UC area.

If you do have to claim UC then your tax/working credit payments will stop

Good point i forgot to mention that. For some reason I assumed there was only 1 child but having re-read it i see the OP doesn't actually say.

IQ