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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Wtf is this a new low for UC :(

141 replies

Continue1 · 18/01/2019 16:27

So in lie of my other thread, I'm in rent arrears. I decided to delve into this and see by how much to get it paid.
UC did not pay my rent for October, hence the arrears. I'm just off the phone the guy said "UC is paid 13 months, the rent is 12 months so for one of those months rent will not be paid"
He also said this months rent will not be paid.
Making me over 700 pound in arrears 😭 wtf

OP posts:
Original poster
Continue1 · 18/01/2019 17:38

UC now I guess?
I moved in 26th March. Before this i was claiming housing benefit, I was told to contact them asap and they changed my address over so I thought they'd pay the rent. However when I contacted tax credits mid April, they said the move put me in a UC area and I had to apply for that.
I got UC in May, but thought HB was still paying the rent, as UC had never asked me for rent details or landlord, in June they asked for it and in June they paid the rent

OP posts:
Mummylife2018 · 18/01/2019 17:39

What is HA? Housing Association? Not all renters are with a Housing Association

theworldistoosmall · 18/01/2019 17:40

Under UC everything is included so there is no separate HB (to the poster questioning this)

They are a shower of shite. A friend has recently realised they've underpaid by £30 a week since the start of the claim. It's her fault apparently for not realising this and digging in their heels to change it never mind backdating to September.

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 18/01/2019 17:42

No OP, UC all of the elements (housing, child benefit, income support, jobs seekers etc) all gets paid to you directly

You then pay your rent from the income you get from UC!

randomuserhere · 18/01/2019 17:43

How old are your children? Is there any way you can work around them part time? Could be cleaning, office work? They're friendly school / nursery hours. I know it's hard as I've been there but UC long term is not the answer. That's why they've introduced it because people have become far too comfortable on benefits.

BejamNostalgia · 18/01/2019 17:43

There’s a group called Christians Against Poverty who deal with debt regardless of religion and have an excellent reputation. They are increasingly dealing with UC problems and with your rent arrears I think you would qualify for their help.

They have a help line. Here is their website and also a page covering UC issues from them.

capuk.org

capuk.org/connect/policy-and-government/checking-in

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 18/01/2019 17:43

Who do you rent through, council, housing association or private landlord?

Original poster
Continue1 · 18/01/2019 17:47

Yes I'm aware of that now haud, but I didn't know about needing to change to UC until mid April, they never asked me for any details of rent or anything hence why I thought HB was paying for it like before. It was my first payment and I had no idea what I was doing.
No my youngest is 5 months old, I guess I could but the nursery for 5 hours is 54 pound, thatd be over 100 for my youngest two, the 3rd is at school nursery

OP posts:
Bombardier25966 · 18/01/2019 17:48

Your rent is paid four weekly, so I can't see why you've not been paid on 8th October. Your next payment is due on 28th January, is that being made?

Did you receive any payment yourself on 8th October (or your payment date closest to that)?

How old is your youngest?

Original poster
Continue1 · 18/01/2019 17:49

Council, which I thought was HA Blush my apologies if I've got it wrong and confused you all! Trying to make sense of it myself is hard enough. I probably should have realised HB wouldn't pay the rent but I thought that's why I changed over my address and everything? I even got a new entitlement statement so I thought it had been sorted.
It's not like UC gave me extra payment to pay the rent, I received 700, which was a massive struggle as I've never had a monthly payment before. But I realise the arrears were my fault for not double checking, but the no October and no January payment have just screwed me over

OP posts:
Original poster
Continue1 · 18/01/2019 17:50

UC said they won't pay this months rent:( no I received the usual amount of UC on the 4th October, if I'd received extra I'd have queried it, if they said it was for the rent then fair enough but no haven't been paid any extra, she's 5 month

OP posts:
MsFrosty · 18/01/2019 17:52

Are you in social or private rented accommodation?

Original poster
Continue1 · 18/01/2019 17:52

Council rented

OP posts:
Bombardier25966 · 18/01/2019 17:53

You are making sense, there's no need to apologise.

It's the October and January payments that need querying.

Do you receive any rent free weeks?

HelenaDove · 18/01/2019 17:54

OP Which HA are you with as one of them is using the SAP computer system and are losing payments in a great black hole the system so if its the one im thinking of some of it could be down to them.

HelenaDove · 18/01/2019 17:56

oh i posted before reading page 3

Original poster
Continue1 · 18/01/2019 17:56

I would receive rent free weeks if I wasn't in arrears, so I don't really know? This time last year I was living with my ex who paid the rent and everything like that, I only got Child benefit so this is all new to me :( I'm really scared now though!

OP posts:
MsFrosty · 18/01/2019 17:57

Are uc aging your rent directly to your housing provider?

MsFrosty · 18/01/2019 17:58

paying sorry

Original poster
Continue1 · 18/01/2019 17:59

Yes it goes directly to them, always has done. In my payment it says the whole amount, but then underneath says 350 we pay to your landlors

OP posts:
thenewaveragebear1983 · 18/01/2019 18:00

Could you ask your landlord to charge you rent per calendar month, rather than 4 weekly? You currently pay every 4 weeks, which is why you make 13 rent payments a year. Times your weekly rent by 52, and divide by 12. That gives you an equal amount per calendar month. The total amount per year is the same but in 12 equal payments. If it's a council property this cannot be the first time they've encountered this with UC surely?

This doesn't solve your rent arrears but if it's possible to arrange with the council to do this it will prevent this happening every year. If not could they give you a letter stating what 1/12th of your annual rent is (ie. 1 calendar month) even if you continue to pay it every 4 weeks?

Bombardier25966 · 18/01/2019 18:01

How many rent free weeks, and are they in January?

You still need to query why no payment was made in October. I'd try to separate the two issues, so first send a query asking why no housing element was paid in October.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 18/01/2019 18:02

Sorry after reading the recently added posts my previous post may now not apply, sorry if it's confused things!

MsFrosty · 18/01/2019 18:10

ok so if your with a social landlord and it's paid direct to them it's paid every 4 weeks ie 13 payments I a year. so they will get there full years allowance and they will have 1 AP where they get 2 payments

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 18/01/2019 18:12

Right, you need to ask the UC to make an admendment to your rental payments, but you need to query May/April and the other 2 payments.

Make an appointment OP with Housing manager, or the councils UC advisor.