Universal credit and leasehold service charges..

another_casualty

Howdy !
I made a claim for universal credit on 29 jan 2019 ( first time ever)
I received my first payment in March 2019
When trying to tape together all that I'm not entitled to , other than council tax discount , I applied for housing benefit .

I am a homeowner of a leasehold flat and I get service charges every 6 months . Today I got a belated bill .
When I got a note in my universal credit journal , I was refused any housing benefit as I have to be paid universal credit for 9 months .

Does this mean as I suspect that I am not entitled to any help just yet? I think I know the answer , but just want to be sure .:mad:

Somebody please advise

Thanks

KatrinaWaves

You need to be more precise with what you are trying to claim. Universal credit has a housing element which replaces Housing benefit. You cannot claim UC and housing benefit.

It sounds like they have said you are not entitled to help with your mortgage interest which is what cannot be applied for 9 months. This should not be referred to as housing benefit...

I do not know if the universal credit housing element provides help for service charges.

another_casualty

Thanks Katrina .
Whoever said universal credit is pita , are spot on .
I know I can claim for help with mortgage etc and service charges,and I was told to leave a note on my universal credit journal . I can phone as well .

What I'm trying to find out is when the 9 month period started .
Is it from January when I first made a claim , or March when I got my first payment ?
If it's March , and I expect it is then I will have to pay it .
If it's January , then surely I should get help .

Thanks

KatrinaWaves

You are only 8 months into the claim, it will go from the claim date.

Service charges is not mortgage interest. They are different things.

In a months time you can claim help with your mortgage interest (it is a loan, not a benefit)

You will need to speak to someone about whether you can claim additional help with the service charges. They will not pay a 'belated bill' for the past 6 months. Which 6 months is the service charge for?

another_casualty

Thanks Katrina .
I was using the mortgage interest as an example as it comes under the same banner as service charges for a leasehold flat .
Thankfully I don't have a mortgage , but with a leasehold flat you have to pay charges for upkeep . It could be an annual payment, six monthly ( as in my case ), or quarterly .

What I was trying to confirm was that as I have only been paid for 8 months then I don't get it . The claim date is January and the payment date is March , when I received my first payment .

Forgot to mention : service charges are from March - sept . The mgt co. Sent the sept reminders late for some reason ..

KatrinaWaves

If service charges are dealt with like mortgage interest, as you appear to indicate, then you will need to pay the bill you have yourself, but you may be able to get a loan to help with ones from November onwards.

However, I am not convinced they are treated the same:

Help with service charges in Universal Credit
The Universal Credit Housing Costs element may also include an amount towards service charges.

These service charges must be a condition of your rent or leasehold agreement and can only be for the following:

general maintenance of the building, for example outside repairs and window cleaning
general upkeep of communal areas, for example gardens and hallways
basic shared services, for example lifts and rubbish collection
specified accommodation costs, for example basic furniture or domestic appliances

What exactly have you put in your journal about asking for help with service charges, and what exactly did they reply?

another_casualty

When I disclosed everything , I got a letter in my u c journal back in jan telling me they cannot help me at this time ,and that I need to have been paid by u c for 9 months .
I have been paid only for 8 months , but made a claim in jan which would have been enough .
Looking at this again , it looks like I've just missed out on any help..

KatrinaWaves

You made a claim on the 29th January. It has been 8 months and 1 day since then. You have not claimed for 9 months.

At what point did you mention service charges to them, and how did you ask for them? I only ask as you keep talking about housing benefit. If you asked about HB and they said you cant have it, then they are correct. It depends what you actually asked for. They are also telling you the rules for help with mortgage interest. Have you ever explicitly said 'I have service charges, can I have help with them?'

another_casualty

KatrinaWaves wrote: »

You made a claim on the 29th January. It has been 8 months and 1 day since then. You have not claimed for 9 months.

At what point did you mention service charges to them, and how did you ask for them? I only ask as you keep talking about housing benefit. If you asked about HB and they said you cant have it, then they are correct. It depends what you actually asked for. They are also telling you the rules for help with mortgage interest. Have you ever explicitly said 'I have service charges, can I have help with them?'

I mentioned all my outgoings . I was going through a lot at the time .
I obviously informed them that I have no rent or mortgage costs and the only payments for my flat I needed was for service charges.
This may have been done through my council when I successfully got a reduction in my council tax . I had to fill in multiple forms bringing my bank statements ,( lack of ) savings etc.
The letter I got sent to my u c journal had the heading " we cannot help you with mortgage interest or service charges ."
You know the rest .
It seems as you said that housing benefit is separate to service charges . The mind boggles and understandably so.
I never asked for housing benefit . Just service charges .
I'll phone the number and see what they say. It'll be good to know for the future ..

poppy12345

SMI under UC is only paid after 9 continuous assessment periods with zero income. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Support-for-mortgage-interest-Universal-Credit

KatrinaWaves

another_casualty wrote: »

I mentioned all my outgoings . I was going through a lot at the time .
I obviously informed them that I have no rent or mortgage costs and the only payments for my flat I needed was for service charges.
This may have been done through my council when I successfully got a reduction in my council tax . I had to fill in multiple forms bringing my bank statements ,( lack of ) savings etc.
The letter I got sent to my u c journal had the heading " we cannot help you with mortgage interest or service charges ."
You know the rest .
It seems as you said that housing benefit is separate to service charges . The mind boggles and understandably so.
I never asked for housing benefit . Just service charges .
I'll phone the number and see what they say. It'll be good to know for the future ..

The information you gave to the council to apply for CTR is not the same as providing info to UC.

i think you need to either phone them or have a benefits chat with someone from the CAB as with respect you seem a little confused about what you can claim and from who, and what info was provided to which department.