Address UC

sassy_one

When you change the address on a UC account, and are renting, once this has been done, is that it?

I ask because there was no notification to upload a new tenancy agreement, it simply said this request has now been complete and address updated.

Thanks 

calcotti

How did you report the change? Did you just post a journal message?
UC definitely need the new tenancy details. Under Report a Change is there an item for renting/housing? 
Any change in your housing element amount will be applied from the start of the AP in which the change occurs.

sassy_one

The change was processed under the Change of Circumstances on the account, not via journal message.

It asked for all the details, rent amount, tenants names, landlord details, all the details, then at the end stated this change has now been actioned and is complete. 

The account now shows the new address.

Will they not need a copy of the tenancy due to the current situation covid wise?

I add the amount is virtually the same as the previous address in LHA anyway.

calcotti

That should be fine. Normally you would be required to take a copy of the tenancy agreement to the JobCentre to verify the details. At the moment that is not possible. DWP will take the information on trust for the time being, when they are able to they may ask to see the tenancy at a future date for verification purposes.

At the end of last year they had just started trying to regularise claims set up earlier in the year but everything is again up in the air. 

sassy_one

Thank you calcotti for your quick responses

calcotti

If you expect the housing element to have changed, even if only slightly, you will be able to see if the change has been applied when your next statement is available. If it looks wrong either message or ring them.

NedS

Just to update, there is a change in procedure here recently.

You will likely be contacted and asked to upload a copy of your tenancy agreement for verification, assuming its private rented sector and not a council property. If this hasn't happened and you are concerned, I'd suggest sending a quick journal message to ask if you will be required to upload a copy of the tenancy agreement, and that should prompt them into action.

calcotti

NedS said:

Just to update, there is a change in procedure here recently.

You will likely be contacted and asked to upload a copy of your tenancy agreement for verification, assuming its private rented sector and not a council property. If this hasn't happened and you are concerned, I'd suggest sending a quick journal message to ask if you will be required to upload a copy of the tenancy agreement, and that should prompt them into action.

NedS, how does the uploading then work. Does work coach have to send a link to claimant?

NedS

calcotti said:

NedS said:

Just to update, there is a change in procedure here recently.

You will likely be contacted and asked to upload a copy of your tenancy agreement for verification, assuming its private rented sector and not a council property. If this hasn't happened and you are concerned, I'd suggest sending a quick journal message to ask if you will be required to upload a copy of the tenancy agreement, and that should prompt them into action.

NedS, how does the uploading then work. Does work coach have to send a link to claimant?

When the customer reports the change, the system raises a task for the WC to Verify Housing Costs. During Covid, the WC was just accepting the reported change under trust and protect as long as it seemed reasonable (not obviously fraudulent).

Under current guidance, the WC will contact the claimant to ask them to upload evidence and will create a task in the claimants todo list to attach the documents. These can either be a pdf/doc if the claimant has the document in electronic format (maybe the letting agent has emailed it to them), or the claimant can photograph it on a smartphone and upload. Once uploaded, the WC will verify it the same as if the claimant was sat in front of them with a copy.

calcotti

Thanks Ned.
OP, based on what Ned has said you need to keep an eye on your To Do list.

tomtom256

Yeah you should get a new to-do within about 7 days of reporting the change, sometimes quicker and you then have a month, I think it is, to provide the evidence requested.