Universal credit migration- how can I give housing proof I don’t have?

Str3ss

Hello! I’d really appreciate some help from you wise folk!

 I’m migrating over to UC from tax credits and housing benefit.

After sending all the proof I was asked for, I saw my first payment is only for standard allowance and nothing for housing.

I queried this and got this reply in my journal: “The evidence of your housing you supplied is very old, dated 2008. Could you please supply a new tenancy agreement signed by both yourself and your landlord.“

2008 was when I moved in. I don’t have a new tenancy agreement. I did also send them a photo of my most recent rent increase letter from August 2023. But this only has the letting agency’s signature.

What do I do now?

If I just added my signature to this 2023 letter would that be accepted -or am I being stupid?

Or is asking the letting agent to draw up a new tenancy agreement the only solution? I’m worried they will charge for this as well as taking a while.

I’ve already had a few issues migrating over (I’m self employed and they initially included a minimum income floor which was much higher than my income - thankfully this seems to be sorted now) and I’m getting pretty stressed with everything!

I’d really appreciate your advice.

marcia_

Str3ss said:

Hello! I’d really appreciate some help from you wise folk!

 I’m migrating over to UC from tax credits and housing benefit.

After sending all the proof I was asked for, I saw my first payment is only for standard allowance and nothing for housing.

I queried this and got this reply in my journal: “The evidence of your housing you supplied is very old, dated 2008. Could you please supply a new tenancy agreement signed by both yourself and your landlord.“

2008 was when I moved in. I don’t have a new tenancy agreement. I did also send them a photo of my most recent rent increase letter from August 2023. But this only has the letting agency’s signature.

What do I do now?

If I just added my signature to this 2023 letter would that be accepted -or am I being stupid?

Or is asking the letting agent to draw up a new tenancy agreement the only solution? I’m worried they will charge for this as well as taking a while.

I’ve already had a few issues migrating over (I’m self employed and they initially included a minimum income floor which was much higher than my income - thankfully this seems to be sorted now) and I’m getting pretty stressed with everything!

I’d really appreciate your advice.

 I would ask them to write a short letter confirming your tenancy and the rent charged. I wouldn't go for a new tenancy which could put the rent up or similar. 

HillStreetBlues

Make a complaint, it's still a valid contract.

Newcad

You are not being stupid, someone at the DWP is.

It's just that the UC computer asks first of all for a Tenancy Agreement, and some of the DWP workers will just slavishly repeat whatever the computer says.
In reality you don't even need to have a TA at all, a Landlord/agent letter confirming the tenancy in your name and the current rent payable is quite sufficient to show your liability to pay rent.

What you have already provided, the original TA and the most recent rent increase, should be enough.

I would  send a messageon your journal about 'A payment', and ask for a "Mandatory Reconsideration" of the decision that your provided evidence of current rent liability is too old.

In the meantime I would also ask the letting agent for an up to date 2024 letter confirming your tenancy and current rent - if you have regular annual rent increases then you are due one this month anyway.