Universal credits and home improvements from equity house sale

beverlea

Firstly apologies if I have put this in the wrong section but it’s the nearest one I could find to my question.
 I am selling my house to be close to my family over 200 miles away I am doing this due to my mental health and disabilities. I claim universal credits and pip. 
there will be excess from my house. Can this be spent on improving the house to suit my needs in regards to my disability’s and also to future proof it as my condition progresses. If I spend the excess on improving the house to suit my needs within 6 months would this be acceptable for universal credit purposes?  It is a very small terraced house. I need a toilet downstairs and no space to put it so would need a small extension. The kitchen units are very old and most are broken. Would I be allowed to do this?  Your help and advice would be much appreciated. 

kaMelo

Are you buying another home closer to your family and this is the home you want to spend money on making improvements?

pmlindyloo

beverlea said:

Firstly apologies if I have put this in the wrong section but it’s the nearest one I could find to my question.
 I am selling my house to be close to my family over 200 miles away I am doing this due to my mental health and disabilities. I claim universal credits and pip. 
there will be excess from my house. Can this be spent on improving the house to suit my needs in regards to my disability’s and also to future proof it as my condition progresses. If I spend the excess on improving the house to suit my needs within 6 months would this be acceptable for universal credit purposes?  It is a very small terraced house. I need a toilet downstairs and no space to put it so would need a small extension. The kitchen units are very old and most are broken. Would I be allowed to do this?  Your help and advice would be much appreciated. 

These are the regulations regarding your situation:

Amount for repairs H2123
Where, in the past 6 months, a person has acquired a sum of money by way of a loan, grant or otherwise which is to be used for making essential repairs or alterations to premises occupied or intended to be occupied as the person’s home, that amount can be disregarded from the calculation of that person’s capital but only where it is used for that purpose. 1 UC Regs, Sch 10, para 15

 Is it reasonable to disregard for longer H2124
The DM may decide it is reasonable to disregard the grant, loan or otherwise for a longer period if the repairs and alterations will take more than 6 months

Certainly suitable alterations needed to be made to address  disabilities would fall under these regulations.

However, I have no knowledge of when or how to inform them of your intentions and what evidence might be required.

If you do not receive any further replies regarding this I would ask about it in your journal.

Rubyroobs

I would make sure you keep all receipts for work done as they may want to know where money has gone. As above I would ask on your journal regarding the extension etc - you would not want to use all your money on that only to find they did not consider it reasonable spending.