Universal Credit Managed Migration - I'm on the sick but they want me to work

KxMx

Because you are paid UC in arrears, you don't lose any housing element but the payment cycles differ for weekly rent & monthly UC. 


The first UC payment is paid 5 weeks in arrears, then monthly in arrears afterwards.

With the two week run on of hb, the first payment of UC Housing Element will leave your rent account 3 weeks in arrears. Each monthly payment will then do the same. 

You can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment to bridge the gap. Funds are managed by your local council and the amount they have available is fixed.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/claiming-discretionary-housing-payments/claiming-discretionary-housing-payments

Newcad

AMJF said:

So on Managed Migration, how many weeks of housing element will I lose? The landlord informed me that he is no longer receiving the Council's Housing Benefit, as the claim ended 25th June. If the UC is paid in arrears, then will he get the housing fully, but later on?

For the first 2-weeks after you migrate to UC you get paid both HB and UC housing element.
So you actually get an extra two weeks worth of rent benefits rather than losing any.

If your HB was being paid direct to your landlord then it will have been paid from the council every 4-weeks. it will now be UC Housing Element every month, so not that much difference.
Have you asked/arranged to have your UC Housing Element paid direct to the LL too?

Do you have a Social rental (Council or Housing Association) or is it a Private landlord?
Social housing providers know how it works with a migration, they have had hundreds of tenants migrate already.
A Private landlord may not be as clued up as to how it works, so if yours is a private rental then you may want to point your LL to the government guidance for landlords here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-rented-housing--2/universal-credit-and-rented-housing-guide-for-landlords

AMJF

Mine is a private landlord, but he's expecting some disruption due to the migration. He's been on UC and knows it's paid in arrears, and I know he'll get the full amount eventually come the 18th July (when they'll pay me) so I'm not too worried. I just want to know he has enough from the last HB payment in the meantime.

Newcad

You might want to put a bit aside each month and when it gets to enough for a weeks (or a months) rent give it to your LL so that  eventually you are in advance and will stay in advance even though your UC HE  is paid in arrears.

If you do that it's would be a good idea to let the LL know what you are doing, so that they know you are working on getting to the situation where your rent is always paid in advance,

That's similar to how Housing Associations do it with HB or UC HE both of which are paid in arrears - you pay a bit above the rent each month until your rent account is 5 weeks in advance when you pay in your monthly payment. (5 weeks because when your rent is due weekly then there can be 5-weekly payments due in some months).

AMJF

I've got another worry now: I've got a commitments review phone call on the 11th July at 11am, but I'm worried about if I miss it. Can I call them back moments later, or will that be it. Also, will the claim end just like that if I miss it. I know a sanction would happen if I don't have a good reason, but those can be withdrawn, right?

TimeLord1

It will be from an 0800 number basically a Jobcentre rep reading off a screen that you agree to report any changes of circumstances. Yes/No answers should be a ten minute call. They have to do it by law.

TimeLord1

And you can use the journal, if you missed it messaging whoever it was with at your Jobcentre. Their name should be on the journal.

NedS

AMJF said:

I've got another worry now: I've got a commitments review phone call on the 11th July at 11am, but I'm worried about if I miss it. Can I call them back moments later, or will that be it. Also, will the claim end just like that if I miss it. I know a sanction would happen if I don't have a good reason, but those can be withdrawn, right?

Don't miss the call. It is a mandatory appointment and failure to take part without good reason can result in a sanction. You should prepare for the call by making sure your phone is fully charged and able to accept incoming calls. Find a quiet space in advance of the time and be prepared to take the call at 11:00am. Do not worry if the call does not happen at exactly 11:00am (sometimes they will be running a little late, no diffident to an appointment at the GP surgery etc), but be prepared for it at 11:00am onwards. If you are well prepared, there is nothing to worry about.

If this is the first time you have had a commitments appointment and haven't previously accepted a set of commitments on the UC system, then your UC claim will not be able to go into payment until you have accepted your commitments, and you cannot accept what you haven't discussed and agreed at your phone appointment if you miss it, so it is important to attend and participate in the phone appointment for your claim to go into payment.

AMJF

I received a letter yesterday from HM Revenue and Customs that was basically a set of P45s about me leaving ESA, and referring to me as an employee. I thought it was rather strange. Anyone else get one of those?

KxMx

It's a part of the process when ESA ends. You don't need to do anything with it other than keep it with your paperwork.