Universal Credit and Second Property

rosewalk

I have recently been made redundant and have made a claim for New Style Job Seekers Allowance. I want to know if I can claim Universal Credit as well. I own my own home (mortgaged) and a second property (mortgaged). The second property, a bungalow, was lived in by my sister but she has now moved into residential care and it is now empty.  I understand that if I put the second property on the market I can ask for the value to be ignored for the first 26 weeks. I would like to move into the bungalow myself and sell the house that I am living in. If I were to do this should I move before making a claim for Universal Credit? I am now struggling to pay mortgages on both properties.

Caz3121

have you run a benefit checker to see if you would receive any universal credit even without the additional property? Any amount will be reduced £ for £ by your JSA...no help for mortgage apart from a loan after 9 months of no income so it may be a case of receiving the £20 per week difference.
If you apply for UC before one of the properties are up for sale then you will likely find the capital makes you ineligible. If you apply once the one you are not living in is up for sale you may well qualify for the extra (depending on other savings)...and this would obviously help if still requiring help when JSA finishes after 26 weeks.

rosewalk

I have checked and I would receive a small amount of Universal Credit without the additional property but not very much as I am only eligible for the Single Allowance.