UC Change

sassy_one

Hi,


Wondering if anyone would know the way to handle this situation. 


Client has moved in 5 days early into the rental property, because it was completed sooner than intended.

UC won't allow advance date on updating address.


The tenancy agreement states it starts in 5 days.

Will they encounter any issues if they advise move in date today?

Keep in mind they still have the old address still as they've paid for that up until May

Spoonie_Turtle

Is the end of their assessment period between now and when their tenancy agreement starts?  If not then it will make no material difference, the payment is calculated based on the circumstances at the end of the AP.

sassy_one

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Is the end of their assessment period between now and when their tenancy agreement starts?  If not then it will make no material difference, the payment is calculated based on the circumstances at the end of the AP.

Yes the AP is between those dates, that's what is causing the issue. If they technically still have legal occupation of the address can they leave the change until after then? The rent amount is the same.

NedS

sassy_one said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Is the end of their assessment period between now and when their tenancy agreement starts?  If not then it will make no material difference, the payment is calculated based on the circumstances at the end of the AP.

Yes the AP is between those dates, that's what is causing the issue. If they technically still have legal occupation of the address can they leave the change until after then? The rent amount is the same.

UC will only pay for one property, regardless if there is rental liability for two properties during a period of overlap (if that is what you are saying)

As the rental amounts are the same, it shouldn't make any difference which property is showing on the claim on the last day of the AP.

WRT the new property, regardless of when the tenant moved in, I would declare the change as the date stated on the tenancy as UC is only really concerned when the legal liability for the rent began, not really when they moved in if the dates are a few days apart. Declaring anything earlier that the date on the tenancy is likely to result in the change/housing costs being rejected and having to declare it again with dates that match.

Newcad

UC and the DWP in general will not accept notification of changes before they actually happen, - because something else could happen before the expected change.

In this particular case the change is where the claimaint is living as their home and has a liability to pay rent.

The fact that for a week or so they may have a liability to pay rent on two places is usually  their problem, benefits will normally only pay for the home you are living in, and you can't normally be classed as 'living' in two at once.
You can be liable for rent on more than one, I had the tenancy on my current flat for 2 weeks before I moved in but I only got benefit for the old place until I actually moved and then it was benefit for the new place.

As NedS says though a problem here is if you tell UC you have moved in before the TA starts UC may decide that you don't have a liability to pay rent at the new place, and you have left your old place so don't have a liability to pay rent there either.

Although because of the way that UC works none of that really matters - unless your UC month just happens to end between the 2 dates, then it might become a problem.

If you are struggling then a Discretionary Housing Payment from the council might be possible to cover the second rent, (or LHA if it was private rental) but those are discretionary and if you do manage to get one it probably wont be until after you have moved.

Spoonie_Turtle

Newcad said:

UC and the DWP in general will not accept notification of changes before they actually happen, - because something else could happen before the expected change.

...

Although because of the way that UC works none of that really matters - unless your UC month just happens to end between the 2 dates, then it might become a problem.

If you are struggling then a Discretionary Housing Payment from the council might be possible to cover the second rent, (or LHA if it was private rental) but those are discretionary and if you do manage to get one it probably wont be until after you have moved.

LHA is just the maximum amount you can get, not an actual payment.  A DHP would still be the only potential option.

OP mentioned above the rent is the same on both, so the AP ending between the dates won't make any material difference.