UC & Housing Element

[Deleted User]

Is the housing element of UC paid in arrears?

Need clarification as I’m helping my cousin with moving and somethings cropped up that I need to try help and resolve.

calcotti

All UC is paid in arrears. Each payment is calculated for a monthly assessment period and is paid one week after the period covered. The housing element will be calculated on the rent liability applicable at the end of the assessment period and applied to the whole period regardless of whether or not there have been any changes during the period.

[Deleted User]

I’m just confused because my cousin lives in a property managed through a housing association and pays the amount she gets on her UC for the housing element to them.

She has just been offered a new property through the local council and they want confirmation of any rent arrears.

She gets her UC tomorrow.

Housing association have said once she pays the amount tomorrow she would still owe two weeks worth of rent.

So I’m confused because she’s always paid what she received.

Housing association have said they will refuse to engage with the council until it’s paid.

Caz3121

is her rent monthly or 4-weekly?

[Deleted User]

Oh yeah that has got me thinking now actually, very good point.

Looking at her rent account, its charged to that on a weekly basis, and then obviously she gets her UC monthly so she just pays what they have paid her for the housing element.

Mrsn

Just to point out although her UC is paid tomorrow if it is being paid directly to the landlord in the future it can take up to another 2 weeks to reach them. We get ours on the 17th yet our housing association doesn’t receive their portion until nearly the 30th of each month! It’s a hassle to be honest....

calcotti

If the Renton the new property will be different to the existing property please take note of the information in post #2. The amount of the housing element for the assessment period in which the change takes place will be based on the rent applicable at the end of the period and may therefore differ from the actual rent liability for the period.

[Deleted User]

Yeah I will pass that on.

There will be no changes until we can sort out the above issue first.

The housing association are refusing to engage with the council until the rent is brought up to date, but she can only pay what UC pay so there's no way she can just hand over another two weeks worth.

I mentioned that maybe she should show the council her rent account with the housing association so they can see she paid the same amount that UC gave her each month straight off her rent account.