ESA Migration to UC

System

This discussion was created from comments split from: ESA Migration to UC.

mrmcc

I have just started claiming UC having been migrated from ESA, i have a question regarding rent payments, i am setting up a DD for the 21st of each month as that when i get my UC, as DD are monthly is this covering the previous or the next months rent, i'm paid up for my rent uptil the 31 March (i live in a council property)

Spoonie_Turtle

UC is paid in arrears so it's for the month (assessment period) preceding the payment.

MSE_ForumTeam2

@mrmcc
We've split this to a new thread for you

Newcad

UC Housing Element pays towards your housing costs (rent and any eligible service charges) in arrears.

Generally your Landlord/Housing Association/Council want rent paying in advance.

So if your rent is paid up to the 31st March, and you don't get your UC until 21st April that means you will be 3-weeks in arrears by then. (Unless you have other money that could pay that rent).

What usually happens in those situations is that the council/housing association ask you to pay a DD that is a bit extra for a year or two, above what is needed for the rent/SC's, until you get to the point that when you pay them a DD each month you are then a month in advance (or 5 weeks in advance if your rent is due weekly). That then covers the rent until your next UC/next DD payment.

If this is your first month on UC then if you were getting Housing Benefit that will run-on and will be paid for 2-weeks after claiming UC. (Is that HB run-on what has already paid your rent up to the 31st?)

Note that Social rents (council/housing association rents) go up on 1st April.
Housing Benefit will only go up on the 1st to match that.
It works differently with UC Housing Element though, you will get the whole of your assessment period month (from 15th March to 14th April) paid at the new rate.

mrmcc

Newcad said:

UC Housing Element pays towards your housing costs (rent and any eligible service charges) in arrears.

Generally your Landlord/Housing Association/Council want rent paying in advance.

So if your rent is paid up to the 31st March, and you don't get your UC until 21st April that means you will be 3-weeks in arrears by then. (Unless you have other money that could pay that rent).

What usually happens in those situations is that the council/housing association ask you to pay a DD that is a bit extra for a year or two, above what is needed for the rent/SC's, until you get to the point that when you pay them a DD each month you are then a month in advance (or 5 weeks in advance if your rent is due weekly). That then covers the rent until your next UC/next DD payment.

If this is your first month on UC then if you were getting Housing Benefit that will run-on and will be paid for 2-weeks after claiming UC. (Is that HB run-on what has already paid your rent up to the 31st?)

Note that Social rents (council/housing association rents) go up on 1st April.
Housing Benefit will only go up on the 1st to match that.
It works differently with UC Housing Element though, you will get the whole of your assessment period month (from 15th March to 14th April) paid at the new rate.

Thank you, as you thought because i would only be two weeks in arrears they have added it onto the account for next year so my monthly payments are slightly higher but not by much.