Help with Universal Credit

Lyndseym

Hi
I have been hiding around the forum for months and have found so much help in reading everyone else’s post on all matters since I separated from my husband last summer .... Thanks to you all I have somehow managed to muddle through and keep myself and 2 children housed fed and warm so far (just about !) Most of my problems have been dealing with Tax credits and moving over to Universal credit as I moved out with my children to a new area which happens to be a live full UC area ... I still have a few problems which I am struggling to to sort out and whilst I can’t I am really struggling to continue to keep us housed fed and warm even though I work full time .... my first problem is tax credits say I was overpaid I wasn’t it’s just my ex won’t respond to requests for information what can I do about that ? Secondly when I had my initial interview in August I took with me all that they asked for my new job contract tenancy children’s birth certificates everything ....I gave them the tenancy agreement which was initially in mine and my ex name only because I needed him to pass the credit score and income check as I had only just started my new job and had a much lower income I had not been on any benefits before , I explained the reason for the joint tenancy and she accepted the explaination I told her I had a new agreement coming in a week in my own name and did I need to provide it she said no as I had explained the reason and made a single persons claim it would be ok .. so now 5 months on I have been struggling and spoke to a friend who is in a similar situation and she was receiving a lot more than me on a bit better income so I did some research and found out why it was my housing element that is wrong so I then sent a message on my Journal to UC they responded saying I have only been entitled to a calculation of half my rent due to the joint tenancy so no wonder I have been struggling so much they say now that it is what it is and that the first month was calculated manually so I have been overpaid and I owe them ??? How is this possible can anyone advise me how to deal with this please ? I appreciate any help I am trying so hard to do the best I can in an awful unexpected situation without any support from my ex he has not paid anything since we separated I can’t manage this by myself it is just too much 😞 Thankyou in advance

Willingtohelp

Don’t panic. You only need to show you are sole tenant. You don’t need a new tenancy agreement just a letter or something to prove it. You can declare as sole tenant from the date it took effect. UC should then sort out the shortfall. You should not have an overpayment for your first month. Quote on your journal that you have an “ untidy tenancy”. Take your evidence to jobcentre and you should be fine.

Lyndseym

Thankyou , I hope it is this simple but my experience so far fills me with dread and dismay . I have left a note on my Journal but will add another quoting this
L x