Universal credit deduction

Cear

Hi all hoping some one can help please.

My daughter started university full time in 2021 living away from home during term time but home for the holidays which I informed UC about on my Journal after getting advise from UC how to do it. Last month and now this month they have suddenly started making a deduction classing her room as a spare room insisting that this is correct and I should be charging her rent to make up the short fall. Is this correct and if so why has it just starting happening and am I going to get backdated charges as they have only just started making the deductions?

Also as I do not have a work coach assigned to me they are just not responding to my journal and I have to keep ring them after two weeks to get them to respond.

She has every intention of coming back home after university.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

peteuk

Taken from Money helper webpage 

• If you have an adult child who is a student and their main residence is your home, their bedroom is not considered to be ‘spare’. This is providing they don’t go more than 52 weeks without returning home. However, under Universal Credit this will be for six months. Also, full-time students won’t be exempt from the ‘Housing Cost Contribution’, under Universal Credit. This is £91.47 a month (2024/25) for each non-dependant adult over 21.

So if they are away for the University terms and return for summer then it’s more than 6 months so, according to the above you are not exempt from the deduction.  (How I read the info above) 

Newcad

On the journal issue:

If you are LCWRA and so don't have a Work Coach then using the "Payments" or "Service issues" option when sending a message will (should) ensure that it goes/gets to your Case Manager instead.

The other message options are meant to go to your WC, but you don't have one so it can take a longer time for your message to get picked up.

Cear

Thank you for advice both. So as my daughter has now reached 21 years I get this deduction? Correct? Despite she is a full time student who comes home for Christmas, Easter, and summer breaks. There is no way she can earn enough to make up this short fall while doing her full time course. Shall have to tighten belt a bit more. 

poppy12345

A non dependent deduction of £91.47/month will only apply if she's treated as living with you. If she is then you shouldn't then be penalised by a bedroom deduction. 

How much is the deduction that was applied?

Cear

Had a case person reply apparently it is not a bedroom deduction it is a non dependent deduction. She has just hit 21 it is £85.73 for March and April. They gave me a link to government web site which is supposed to explain it but I could not find it there. 

poppy12345

Cear said:

Had a case person reply apparently it is not a bedroom deduction it is a non dependent deduction. She has just hit 21 it is £85.73 for March and April. They gave me a link to government web site which is supposed to explain it but I could not find it there. 

That’s the rate before the increase. For your next payment the deduction will increase to £91.47/month. See link https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/non-dependants

The deduction is correct unless you or a partner receives either daily living PIP/ADP or mid/high rate care DLA. 

peteuk

Cear said:

Thank you for advice both. So as my daughter has now reached 21 years I get this deduction? Correct? Despite she is a full time student who comes home for Christmas, Easter, and summer breaks. There is no way she can earn enough to make up this short fall while doing her full time course. Shall have to tighten belt a bit more. 

My daughter got a job in Spoons - paid her food and partying!  If there is a reason she cant get a part time job then double check what other benefits/finance she can claim