When should I report change for Universal Credit?

Renee_Lou

In relation to Housing Benefit/Council Tax, when should I report the change that I am receiving Universal Credit? When I first apply for Universal Credit or when I first start receiving the Universal Credit payments? 

poppy12345

Renee_Lou said:

In relation to Housing Benefit/Council Tax, when should I report the change that I am receiving Universal Credit? When I first apply for Universal Credit or when I first start receiving the Universal Credit payments? 

They will already know if you apply and your housing benefit will continue for a further 2 weeks and then automatically stop.

Renee_Lou

poppy12345 said:

Renee_Lou said:

In relation to Housing Benefit/Council Tax, when should I report the change that I am receiving Universal Credit? When I first apply for Universal Credit or when I first start receiving the Universal Credit payments? 

They will already know if you apply and your housing benefit will continue for a further 2 weeks and then automatically stop.

I'm still confused. I live with my parents and finished university in the summer. My parents were told they were overpaid Housing Benefit and Council Tax and that I reported receiving Universal Credit too late. I finished university in early June, applied for UC end of June, started receiving it in early August and reported receiving UC mid/late August. So I'm not sure when I was supposed to report the change?

poppy12345

Renee_Lou said:

poppy12345 said:

Renee_Lou said:

In relation to Housing Benefit/Council Tax, when should I report the change that I am receiving Universal Credit? When I first apply for Universal Credit or when I first start receiving the Universal Credit payments? 

They will already know if you apply and your housing benefit will continue for a further 2 weeks and then automatically stop.

I'm still confused. I live with my parents and finished university in the summer. My parents were told they were overpaid Housing Benefit and Council Tax and that I reported receiving Universal Credit too late. I finished university in early June, applied for UC end of June, started receiving it in early August and reported receiving UC mid/late August. So I'm not sure when I was supposed to report the change?

I assumed you were talking about your claim for housing benefit, if you don't state all the details then how can you get the correct advice?

The changes have already been reported, so there's nothing more to report. As you're living at home with your parents then you won't receive any help with the rent in with your UC entitlement.

There's no non dependant deductions to your parents housing benefit if you're under 25 and receive no earned income when claiming UC.

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/housing_benefit_deductions_when_living_with_non-dependants

Renee_Lou

I assumed you were talking about your claim for housing benefit, if you don't state all the details then how can you get the correct advice?

The changes have already been reported, so there's nothing more to report. As you're living at home with your parents then you won't receive any help with the rent in with your UC entitlement.

There's no non dependant deductions to your parents housing benefit if you're under 25 and receive no earned income when claiming UC.

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/housing_benefit_deductions_when_living_with_non-dependants

It's my parents housing benefit and council tax claim. They have been told they were overpaid and that they should be paying more because I am no longer a student. After, I sent evidence that I am on UC so my parents should be paying the same for rent until I turn 25 or start earning more money but they were then told that we reported the fact I'm on UC late. So I'm confused as to what is considered late? I've looked to see how long I have to report a change in circumstances, one site said 30 days and another said 13 weeks. I'm also unsure if I was supposed to report the change when I first applied for UC or after I started to receive the payments. 

Alice_Holt

Renee_Lou said:

I assumed you were talking about your claim for housing benefit, if you don't state all the details then how can you get the correct advice?

The changes have already been reported, so there's nothing more to report. As you're living at home with your parents then you won't receive any help with the rent in with your UC entitlement.

There's no non dependant deductions to your parents housing benefit if you're under 25 and receive no earned income when claiming UC.

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/housing_benefit_deductions_when_living_with_non-dependants

It's my parents housing benefit and council tax claim. They have been told they were overpaid and that they should be paying more because I am no longer a student. After, I sent evidence that I am on UC so my parents should be paying the same for rent until I turn 25 or start earning more money but they were then told that we reported the fact I'm on UC late. So I'm confused as to what is considered late? I've looked to see how long I have to report a change in circumstances, one site said 30 days and another said 13 weeks. I'm also unsure if I was supposed to report the change when I first applied for UC or after I started to receive the payments. 

   I would have thought your parents should have reported the change of circumstances when you finished uni and moved back to live with your parents.  The HB claim is your parents, not yours - it is their responsibility to report changes.  You are a separate "benefit household" to your parents.   

  Their HB will be subject to a non-dependent reduction -
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/housing_benefit_deductions_when_living_with_non-dependants
However if you are a young person under 25 who gets universal credit with no earned income then no HB deduction is made.
Otherwise I would expect a deduction from around £15.85 pw, as you are expected to contribute to household costs such as rent.

Has the council now told your parents that there is not an overpayment?

Re - What is considered late.  Look at what the council's website / information leaflets tell you.

Renee_Lou

Alice_Holt said:

Renee_Lou said:

I assumed you were talking about your claim for housing benefit, if you don't state all the details then how can you get the correct advice?

The changes have already been reported, so there's nothing more to report. As you're living at home with your parents then you won't receive any help with the rent in with your UC entitlement.

There's no non dependant deductions to your parents housing benefit if you're under 25 and receive no earned income when claiming UC.

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/housing_benefit_deductions_when_living_with_non-dependants

It's my parents housing benefit and council tax claim. They have been told they were overpaid and that they should be paying more because I am no longer a student. After, I sent evidence that I am on UC so my parents should be paying the same for rent until I turn 25 or start earning more money but they were then told that we reported the fact I'm on UC late. So I'm confused as to what is considered late? I've looked to see how long I have to report a change in circumstances, one site said 30 days and another said 13 weeks. I'm also unsure if I was supposed to report the change when I first applied for UC or after I started to receive the payments. 

   I would have thought your parents should have reported the change of circumstances when you finished uni and moved back to live with your parents.  The HB claim is your parents, not yours - it is their responsibility to report changes.  You are a separate "benefit household" to your parents.   

  Their HB will be subject to a non-dependent reduction -
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/housing_benefit_deductions_when_living_with_non-dependants
However if you are a young person under 25 who gets universal credit with no earned income then no HB deduction is made.
Otherwise I would expect a deduction from around £15.85 pw, as you are expected to contribute to household costs such as rent.

Has the council now told your parents that there is not an overpayment?

Re - What is considered late.  Look at what the council's website / information leaflets tell you.

Thanks for the response. I'll have to wait till Monday to contact the local council/citizen advice service and ask what they consider late because although they said they were informed of the changes late, they didn't specify by when we were supposed to inform them. I'm asking on behalf of my parents because they're around pension age therefore, not tech-savvy at all. If they don't understand things (like benefits etc) they wouldn't think to Google the information, hence why we're in this pickle and I'm trying to solve the issue myself. 

poppy12345

Renee_Lou said:

Alice_Holt said:

Renee_Lou said:

I assumed you were talking about your claim for housing benefit, if you don't state all the details then how can you get the correct advice?

The changes have already been reported, so there's nothing more to report. As you're living at home with your parents then you won't receive any help with the rent in with your UC entitlement.

There's no non dependant deductions to your parents housing benefit if you're under 25 and receive no earned income when claiming UC.

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/housing_benefit_deductions_when_living_with_non-dependants

It's my parents housing benefit and council tax claim. They have been told they were overpaid and that they should be paying more because I am no longer a student. After, I sent evidence that I am on UC so my parents should be paying the same for rent until I turn 25 or start earning more money but they were then told that we reported the fact I'm on UC late. So I'm confused as to what is considered late? I've looked to see how long I have to report a change in circumstances, one site said 30 days and another said 13 weeks. I'm also unsure if I was supposed to report the change when I first applied for UC or after I started to receive the payments. 

   I would have thought your parents should have reported the change of circumstances when you finished uni and moved back to live with your parents.  The HB claim is your parents, not yours - it is their responsibility to report changes.  You are a separate "benefit household" to your parents.   

  Their HB will be subject to a non-dependent reduction -
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/housing_benefit_deductions_when_living_with_non-dependants
However if you are a young person under 25 who gets universal credit with no earned income then no HB deduction is made.
Otherwise I would expect a deduction from around £15.85 pw, as you are expected to contribute to household costs such as rent.

Has the council now told your parents that there is not an overpayment?

Re - What is considered late.  Look at what the council's website / information leaflets tell you.

Thanks for the response. I'll have to wait till Monday to contact the local council/citizen advice service and ask what they consider late because although they said they were informed of the changes late, they didn't specify by when we were supposed to inform them. I'm asking on behalf of my parents because they're around pension age therefore, not tech-savvy at all. If they don't understand things (like benefits etc) they wouldn't think to Google the information, hence why we're in this pickle and I'm trying to solve the issue myself. 

Your question makes no sense. As Alice has previously advised, the time to report the changes was when you left Uni and moved back home. Anything after this would have been classed as late.

If you are under 25 and have no earnings then there's no deductions for your parents housing benefit because you're claiming UC.

Alice_Holt

Renee_Lou said:

Alice_Holt said:

Renee_Lou said:

I assumed you were talking about your claim for housing benefit, if you don't state all the details then how can you get the correct advice?

The changes have already been reported, so there's nothing more to report. As you're living at home with your parents then you won't receive any help with the rent in with your UC entitlement.

There's no non dependant deductions to your parents housing benefit if you're under 25 and receive no earned income when claiming UC.

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/housing_benefit_deductions_when_living_with_non-dependants

It's my parents housing benefit and council tax claim. They have been told they were overpaid and that they should be paying more because I am no longer a student. After, I sent evidence that I am on UC so my parents should be paying the same for rent until I turn 25 or start earning more money but they were then told that we reported the fact I'm on UC late. So I'm confused as to what is considered late? I've looked to see how long I have to report a change in circumstances, one site said 30 days and another said 13 weeks. I'm also unsure if I was supposed to report the change when I first applied for UC or after I started to receive the payments. 

   I would have thought your parents should have reported the change of circumstances when you finished uni and moved back to live with your parents.  The HB claim is your parents, not yours - it is their responsibility to report changes.  You are a separate "benefit household" to your parents.   

  Their HB will be subject to a non-dependent reduction -
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/housing_benefit_deductions_when_living_with_non-dependants
However if you are a young person under 25 who gets universal credit with no earned income then no HB deduction is made.
Otherwise I would expect a deduction from around £15.85 pw, as you are expected to contribute to household costs such as rent.

Has the council now told your parents that there is not an overpayment?

Re - What is considered late.  Look at what the council's website / information leaflets tell you.

Thanks for the response. I'll have to wait till Monday to contact the local council/citizen advice service and ask what they consider late because although they said they were informed of the changes late, they didn't specify by when we were supposed to inform them. I'm asking on behalf of my parents because they're around pension age therefore, not tech-savvy at all. If they don't understand things (like benefits etc) they wouldn't think to Google the information, hence why we're in this pickle and I'm trying to solve the issue myself. 

     https://www.gov.uk/housing-benefit/report-a-change-of-circumstances

      "Report a change of circumstances

    You need to report a change of circumstances for you and anyone else in your house.

    Your claim might be stopped or reduced if you do not report a change of circumstances straight away.

    Changes can include:

• people moving into or out of your house (for example your partner, a child or lodger)
  
  

  If you’ve been paid too much

  You may have to repay the money if you:

  • did not report a change straight away"
    
    However, since your moving back did not result in an overpayment of HB for your parents (since you are not assessed as having a non-dependent deduction) I don't think there is a "pickle", nor an "issue... to solve". 
    
    What is the precise issue you are concerned with? Is the council telling your parents that there is an overpayment, they need to repay?

Renee_Lou

Alice_Holt said:

Renee_Lou said:

Alice_Holt said:

Renee_Lou said:

I assumed you were talking about your claim for housing benefit, if you don't state all the details then how can you get the correct advice?

The changes have already been reported, so there's nothing more to report. As you're living at home with your parents then you won't receive any help with the rent in with your UC entitlement.

There's no non dependant deductions to your parents housing benefit if you're under 25 and receive no earned income when claiming UC.

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/housing_benefit_deductions_when_living_with_non-dependants

It's my parents housing benefit and council tax claim. They have been told they were overpaid and that they should be paying more because I am no longer a student. After, I sent evidence that I am on UC so my parents should be paying the same for rent until I turn 25 or start earning more money but they were then told that we reported the fact I'm on UC late. So I'm confused as to what is considered late? I've looked to see how long I have to report a change in circumstances, one site said 30 days and another said 13 weeks. I'm also unsure if I was supposed to report the change when I first applied for UC or after I started to receive the payments. 

   I would have thought your parents should have reported the change of circumstances when you finished uni and moved back to live with your parents.  The HB claim is your parents, not yours - it is their responsibility to report changes.  You are a separate "benefit household" to your parents.   

  Their HB will be subject to a non-dependent reduction -
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/housing_benefit_deductions_when_living_with_non-dependants
However if you are a young person under 25 who gets universal credit with no earned income then no HB deduction is made.
Otherwise I would expect a deduction from around £15.85 pw, as you are expected to contribute to household costs such as rent.

Has the council now told your parents that there is not an overpayment?

Re - What is considered late.  Look at what the council's website / information leaflets tell you.

Thanks for the response. I'll have to wait till Monday to contact the local council/citizen advice service and ask what they consider late because although they said they were informed of the changes late, they didn't specify by when we were supposed to inform them. I'm asking on behalf of my parents because they're around pension age therefore, not tech-savvy at all. If they don't understand things (like benefits etc) they wouldn't think to Google the information, hence why we're in this pickle and I'm trying to solve the issue myself. 

     https://www.gov.uk/housing-benefit/report-a-change-of-circumstances

      "Report a change of circumstances

    You need to report a change of circumstances for you and anyone else in your house.

    Your claim might be stopped or reduced if you do not report a change of circumstances straight away.

    Changes can include:

• people moving into or out of your house (for example your partner, a child or lodger)
  
  

  If you’ve been paid too much

  You may have to repay the money if you:

  • did not report a change straight away"
    
    However, since your moving back did not result in an overpayment of HB for your parents (since you are not assessed as having a non-dependent deduction) I don't think there is a "pickle", nor an "issue... to solve". 
    
    What is the precise issue you are concerned with? Is the council telling your parents that there is an overpayment, they need to repay?

Yes. I was living with my parents during university. So the change of circumstances is that I am no longer a student. My parents were told they have been overpaid for the weeks between the time I graduated and the time we informed the council I am receiving UC. So even though my parents don't have any deductions for me now, they are being told they still need to repay the housing benefit/council tax support they were receiving between the time I graduated and when we reported I have been receiving UC. 

Alice_Holt

"My parents were told they have been overpaid for the weeks between the time I graduated and the time we informed the council I am receiving UC"

"I finished university in early June, applied for UC end of June"

There will be a recoverable overpayment for the period between you finishing at university and claiming UC. 

You need to be very clear on the exact chronology of events, so list:
a) Date your final uni term ended  (i.e when you ceased to be in full time uni education);
b) Date you claimed UC;   
c) Date your parents informed the HB dept that you were no longer a student;
d) Date your parents informed the HB dept that you had claimed UC;
e) The period for which the HB dept say there is a recoverable overpayment, and its relationship to the other dates.

How to appeal:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/help-if-on-a-low-income/housing-benefit/problems-with-housing-benefit/challenging-a-housing-benefit-decision/
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/housing_benefit_revisions_and_appeals

To summarise -
The weeks gap between a)  and b)  will lead to an recoverable overpayment.  (Look at the link I posted earlier on non dependent deductions and exeptions).
However, if the overpayment covers a period between you claiming UC and your parents informing the council. this then may be worth appealing.

During the period between you finishing uni and claiming UC, you will be subject to a non dependent deduction for HB of £15.85 pw.  If this is the overpayment the council are seeking to recover, then IMO they are correct. 

Have your parents confirmed to the council your income during this period?  Are the council seeking a repayment at a higher rate for those weeks - (thus assuming you had earned income during that period?).