LHA rates and UC

[BluLagoon]

I know that LHA went up this month but the increase has not been applied to my UC amount. I’ve left a message in the journal but wondering if anyone else has had this and if it’s a widespread issue?

I’ve heard there is a widespread glitch, there’s a universal credit survival group on Facebook that lots have said the same on.

Mine did not get adjusted yet either

It waits for your full assessment period after the increase apparently.
My rent increased but it’s less than the LHA but the other elements won’t increase until my May payment

UC is paid in arrears, hence the 5 week wait for your first payment. They also don't pay for part of an assessment period - they only apply rate changes for the first full assessment period after they come in.

You'll see the increase in your next payment, or possibly the one after depending what dates your AP is.

Also if you have moved from tax credits they take it from your 'protection' amount before adding it to the money you actually receive. This is what I discovered checking through mine this month which I think is wrong. Surely the protection amount should remain constant for that first year since the changes are due to COL increases such as rent rises.

I’ve been UC for a while, and my latest assessment period just ended, so next payment should be with new LHA rates. Oh well, let’s see what happens after journal message

They only pay rate increases from the first full month that they apply to your claim - they don't pay part of your AP at one rate and part at another. So unless your entire AP was subject to the new rates (impossible for the AP that's just ended as the new rates came in less than a month ago), you won't get the increase in this payment.

My AP is 1st-31st so do you think I’ll see it in my payment on 7th May since it went up 1st April?

Sorry to hijack your thread with my own question, OP. I’m just fed up of not knowing the answer to this (although, admittedly, I only need to wait until Wednesday when my statement is available. But I’ve budgeted for the increase and am now a bit worried that I was silly to do so).

No, because the rate increases took effect from 8th April not 1st April!

LHA isn’t the same as the inflation increases. It went up on 1st April, not 6th (or 8th because that was the first Monday after 6th).

But if it's paid as part of UC, then it won't go up until after the 8th. I'm assuming from you referring to your AP that you are getting UC?

I get old style housing benefit, which did indeed go up on 1st April. But UC regulations and payment schedules are different, and no UC claimants will see any of the rate increases reflected in their payments until May at the earliest.

That’s interesting. Can you post a link to where you found this info please?

Last time rates went up in April I didn't get an increase until my June 8th payment which seemed pretty ridiculous

It sounds pretty normal. It’s one full assessment period after the change and is paid in arrears so getting it in your payment for May sounds correct.

It's what the admin in the (extremely knowledgeable) Universal Credit and Legacy Benefit Advice FB group have stated repeatedly for months. They know their stuff better than most DWP staff and I've never known them get it wrong!

Just to update on this; I received my UC statement today and I will be receiving the LHA increase this month so it’s not paid in the same way as the increase linked with inflation.