Move boroughs and going on universal credit.

[Lestrange1]

I’m a single mother on carers allowance as my 2nd son receives high DLA. I currently get child benefit, child tax, income support, carers allowance and housing benefit.

We are moving to a house 60 miles away so in new borough in 2 months time and was wondering when do I tell my housing benefits here that I’m moving?

Also how many weeks before I move should I apply for universal credit online? I’m assuming once I move I’d have to take in my new tenancy agreement into local job centre.

It’s all very overwhelming right now

I imagine you would need to make the UC application on the day you move, or from whenever you have the new tenancy from.

Housing benefit can shut claims down very quickly so wouldn't worry about that. Also if you do a UC claim your old benefits will be closed as soon as you you complete your claim.

You might want to have a benefit check done or complete one online so you can see what you will receive.

Claims should be made from the date you want to claim. You can't claim in advance and there is no backdating except in very specific circumstances.

Bear in mind that UC is paid monthly in arrears and you won't receive any money for 5 weeks. And this will be a month's worth of money.

Your Carer's Allowance will continue and will just be deducted from your UC but you will also be entitled to a Carer's element. Your sons DLA will continue and you should get more UC as you have a disabled child. Your child benefit continues but your tax credits, income support and housing benefit will stop. You need to claim council tax reduction separately.

As a carer you should not have to complete any work related activities. But you will need to manage your claim online and complete any tasks (to do's) very quickly. Ime they give you a week and if not complete they can close your claim down. There appears to be very little flexibility and common sense and they appear reluctant or unable to reopen claims. If a claim is closed you then need to start again.

You will just need to be on top of your claim more so than you are currently. DWP communicate with you via your journal and seem to give you very little info or information about your rights to challenge decisions or what will happen if you don't do something they ask.

Just make sure you are aware of any potential pitfalls and you should be ok.