When should I report change for Universal Credit?

Robbie64

A change of circumstances for HB has to be reported within one month. If reported in time a revision decision can be made which benefits the claimant and any change will be backdated to the Monday after the change happens. If the change is reported after a month a decision which benefits the claimant can only be made from the Monday after the change was notified. However a change which leads to a decrease in HB will still be backdated to the Monday after the change in circumstances.

There are two changes in circumstances here:

1. the non-dependent ceasing to be a student in early June

2. the non-dependent claiming UC is late June.

It depends when both 1. and 2. above were reported to the council as to the period when

a) a non-dependent charge is applied

b) when the non-dependent charge is then removed when UC is payable.

The parents could ask for a revision of the decision to apply a) beyond when UC was claimed. But the council seem to have used the late reporting of the first change (the non-dep ceasing to be a student) to override the date that the second change took effect and instead have only revised HB from the Monday following the notification that UC was in payment.

Renee_Lou

Robbie64 said:

A change of circumstances for HB has to be reported within one month. If reported in time a revision decision can be made which benefits the claimant and any change will be backdated to the Monday after the change happens. If the change is reported after a month a decision which benefits the claimant can only be made from the Monday after the change was notified. However a change which leads to a decrease in HB will still be backdated to the Monday after the change in circumstances.

There are two changes in circumstances here:

1. the non-dependent ceasing to be a student in early June

2. the non-dependent claiming UC is late June.

It depends when both 1. and 2. above were reported to the council as to the period when

a) a non-dependent charge is applied

b) when the non-dependent charge is then removed when UC is payable.

The parents could ask for a revision of the decision to apply a) beyond when UC was claimed. But the council seem to have used the late reporting of the first change (the non-dep ceasing to be a student) to override the date that the second change took effect and instead have only revised HB from the Monday following the notification that UC was in payment.

The council already knew when my course ended though. I informed them the date my course ended a year ago and told them within a month of it ending this year again. 

Renee_Lou

Alice_Holt said:

"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?). 


 

I guess we'll just appeal because they already have all that information. 

poppy12345

Renee_Lou said:

Alice_Holt said:

"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?). 


 

I guess we'll just appeal because they already have all that information. 

Appeal? That's not the answer here. Asking for the revision of the decision is all that's needed. Also regardless of whether they knew the date your course ended, your parents should have still reported the changes. All changes should be reported and it states this on all letters when claiming benefits.