Universal Credit Refused To Pay Housing Costs then Paid me anyway!?

gandalf11

Hi , Uninversal Credit refused to pay my housing costs when I recently moved into a property my father bought  [ he  does,nt live here , its just me] , but dispite not giving a clear reason why it was refused  then started paying me anyway [ £400 a month ] ...no body has told me they have changed their decision , so why start paying me , when they have already said no ?
Thank You

poppy12345

You need to ask them because no one here can tell you that. Do be aware that any overpayment will need to be repaid back, even if it's their error.

gandalf11

The reason I posted on here , was to see if anyone else had experienced the same , before I start contacting Universal Credit...your comment was,nt helpful...Thanks

poppy12345

I'm sorry you didn't find my reply helpful but in reality only DWP can answer your question. If you're renting from your father then usually you have to prove that you're father is renting to you on a commercial basis, it's possible that they decided this was the case.

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/claiming_benefits_if_you_rent_from_family

tomtom256

Poppy's advice was spot on, it may be be an error and if you fail to tell them, the overpayment will accrue.

Did you get a letter uploaded to your journal when they refused housing?

Have you asked for a mandatory reconsideration at all?

Might be worth checking your journal incase you missed anything.

NedS

Were you receiving help with housing costs on UC before you moved?

gandalf11

No I was,nt , that property was also owned by my father

huckster

Did you get a letter uploaded to your journal when they refused housing?

Repeating the question Tomtom asked you above. If you had a letter in your journal from a Decision Maker that was an official decision by a Decision Maker. If there was a decision to pay Housing later, then a further letter should have been added to your journal updating the decision.

gandalf11

Thanks for the message