Universal Credits

[SHEQ]

Good Evening All,

I am new here so bare with me..

I am currently in receipt of working & child tax credits and also HB.
I have recently applied for a house in an area that has Universal Credits active. I understand that I will have to switch over to universal credits as soon as I move.

My concern is that I will have no money for 5 weeks, do any of you know if your first payment includes a back payment?

Thank you

There is no back payment as UC is paid in arrears. However at your first ID appointment at the job centre they will offer you an advance payment so that you can pay your rent. This advance is then paid back over a number of months ( they take some of your Uc payment each month to pay it back ).

I think you also get a two week run on of Housing benefit now but WTC & CTC will stop immediately when you make a UC claim. If there are any overpayments of tax credits they are taken back from your UC payments via a small amount each month.

Babyroobs, thank you this is a great help..

I am dreading this change over.

Yes I think a lot of people are having problems, some are better off. the wait is problematic and having to pay back the advance as you have lost money each month before you have even started. Try to save a little if you can so that you don't have to take the full advance ( easier said than done I know ! ).