Should I declare PIP to universal credit?

joewest1802

I recently was awarded PIP, and I'm already on universal credit (with housing benefit element, and with limited capacity for work element). I called the universal credit helpline a few months ago to check if I need to declare PIP to them if I were to get it and they said it doesn't affect universal credit, but should still be declared in my journal anyway.

I'm worried that if I do so then I'll still end up somehow losing some of my universal credit, so I keep putting off noting it in my journal. Can anyone confirm that there's no danger in doing this, even with the housing benefit + limited capacity for work elements I receive? Thanks

poppy12345

joewest1802 said:

I recently was awarded PIP, and I'm already on universal credit (with housing benefit element, and with limited capacity for work element). I called the universal credit helpline a few months ago to check if I need to declare PIP to them if I were to get it and they said it doesn't affect universal credit, but should still be declared in my journal anyway.

I'm worried that if I do so then I'll still end up somehow losing some of my universal credit, so I keep putting off noting it in my journal. Can anyone confirm that there's no danger in doing this, even with the housing benefit + limited capacity for work elements I receive? Thanks

You can yes but it won't negatively affect your UC because PIP isn't means tested. In fact in some case it can affect it in a good way. If you're a single person under the age of 35 and you're privately renting then instead of the shared rate of LHA you'll be entitled to the 1 bedroom rate, providing you have a daily living PIP award.

If you're claiming with a partner and they look after you for at least 35 hours per week. then they will be able to claim carers element for looking after you, providing your PIP includes the daily living PIP.

If you're affected by the benefit cap, a PIP award will mean you're no longer affected by this.

Spoonie_Turtle

If it helps to reassure you, I was awarded PIP whilst I already claiming UC.  I didn't actually declare it to them, per se, but I did declare my backpayment for them to disregard as savings and as a result there is a record of me being awarded PIP on my journal.  It didn't affect my UC at all, although as poppy has pointed out there may be certain positive effects if relevant to your circumstances.

calcotti

In addition to the positives poppy has mentioned, if you any non-dependants living with you they would no longer be expected to contribute towards your rent.

poppy12345

Thanks calcotti, i forgot about that one.

TELLIT01

On a broader point, it is an extremely bad idea to put off informing UC or any other benefit because you think a change will affect your payment.  If the change would affect a benefit payment all you would be doing is building up an overpayment which will eventually have to be repaid.  Far better to report a change when you don't actually need to, than not report a change when you should.