Universal credit advance payment.

Mumtobe29292929

Hi.

Had my appointment at the job centre today. Offered £522 advance payment, is this my estimated full amount I am going to receive? The advisor didn’t know much to tell me!

My circumstances are - single. 29. Private tennant paying 585 a month rent. Baby due on 23/02/2020 tho this may change as I am discussing planned section tomorrow with my consultant.

Any advice would be great

calcotti

Your UC will be £317.92/month plus help with your rent.

If you are renting privately the amount of help you can get with your rent is capped by the LHA.
https://www.housingadviceni.org/advice-private-tenants/working-out-lha-rates
https://www.nihe.gov.uk/Housing-Help/Local-Housing-Allowance/How-we-calculate-LHA-rent-levels
(I recall that you are in Northern Ireland)

At the moment the applicable LHA rate will be the shared accommodation rate. Once your baby is born you will be entitled to the two bedroom rate LHA and will get a child element added to your UC of £231.67/month. The change will be backdated to the start of the assessment period in which your baby is born.

Above figures are for the maximum UC amount. The amount payable may be less if you have other income or savings over £6,000.

You will also be able to claim Child Benefit after the birth. It will not affect your UC.

yksi

It was for me - I have applied online more than once and every time the advance has exactly matched my expected maximum payment, regardless of whether I got the entire payment or not.

calcotti

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/universal-credit-advance-payments

If you are eligible, you can get up to 100 per cent of your estimated Universal Credit payment.

You will have to pay the advance back by deduction from the next 12 payments.