Universal credit housing element

NedS

jemima72 said:

Because I calculated how much we are entitled to if the housing element is included and compared it to how much is on our statement without the housing element included. Like I said before, all I want to know is if there any rules on whether you have to have the housing element.

Not that I am aware of.

In your case where you have initially claimed housing and they have been unable to verify it, they would simply ignore it if you fail to provide the evidence - they would do that on the assumption that you would be worse off by not claiming the housing element, as would be the case for most people.

If the housing element does get approved and you want it removed, you would need to declare a change to your housing and say that you no longer have rent - that should automatically remove the housing element from your claim. Because there is no rent, I don't think anyone would be involved in that process - the system would automatically just accept the reported change as there is now no housing element/rent to verify.

Would that constitute a potential fraud - declaring a change you know to be incorrect for the purposes of claiming more benefit? I don't know the answer to that. It's clearly a loophole as they obviously never imagined anyone could have such low rent that the situation may arise.

xxxxxxxx

P.S. I would also need to know why the rent is so low, the fact that it is not a commercially viable rate could be an important factor

poppy12345

xxxxxxxx said:

Give me the details and I will get you an answer, those are my terms.

I think it's very clear that the OP doesn't want to give you that information because that's not the information they are asking for. They already know the figures and have just come for help with the housing element question, nothing more.

calcotti

jemima72 said: .., not a huge amount but when money is tight I'd rather know if I can keep it or if I will owe it back. 

I do understand, apologies if my comment came across as insensitive.

jemima72

calcotti said:

jemima72 said: .., not a huge amount but when money is tight I'd rather know if I can keep it or if I will owe it back. 

I do understand, apologies if my comment came across as insensitive.

Not at all! 

jemima72

poppy12345 said:

xxxxxxxx said:

Give me the details and I will get you an answer, those are my terms.

I think it's very clear that the OP doesn't want to give you that information because that's not the information they are asking for. They already know the figures and have just come for help with the housing element question, nothing more.

Thank you.

I'm just going to wait and see what the case manager says. If they don't have an answer any ideas who I could speak to next?

jemima72

Just updating this to say I still haven't heard anything from UC and Citizen's Advice haven't been much use so far.

Does anyone have any ideas who I could speak to next? Put a complaint in with UC maybe?

tomtom256

Missed this, but if you don't wany any help with your housing, you just declare you have no housing costs on your claim.
UC can only pay the elements you have an entitlement to.
As you have declared housing costs and presumably provided evidence they are paying it. If you delcare no housing costs, they won't pay any.
The choice is yours based on the declarations made.
They may query it, but as far as I am aware, there is nothing law or legislation that states you have to receive the housing element as part of the claim, just because you rent a property.

huckster

Agree with Tomtom, as this is what I suggested on page 1 of this thread.

Jemima, your situation is not unique, as there are thousands of people around the UK in the same position, where they are paying a nominal amount of rent, as the accommodation is provided as a part of the job. In some circumstances, the person has no choice but to live in the employers accommodation provided.

Sometimes with benefits, the rules are written around typical situations that apply to hundreds of thousands or millions of people. The fact that some thousands may live in below market rate employers provided accommodation may be something that Government are not very concerned about, as the amount of money involved is not at a level, where they are going to spend time looking into it. And if employers are providing cheaper accommodation, then there may be a saving, as some of these people are not claiming any entitlement  to Housing costs from Government.