Universal Credit... different calculation depending on county?

[BackinLondon2019]

Currently living in Surrey but planning a potential move to Sussex for cheaper cost of living etc. According to the Entitledto website, I would receive a weekly amount of Universal Credit for Surrey, however when I change the postcode to one of Sussex, I get 0 as the amount I would be entitled to (rest of info is exactly the same). How's this possible?!

The savings I would make on rent living in Sussex would be wiped out but not getting any UC... Relay need to be sure as there wouldn't be any point in moving if that's going to be the case.

Thank you

PS. I just moved back after living abroad so no UC payments at the moment

I think it will be the rent element - lower rent will equal less UC. Different areas have different amounts allowed for rent, same as Housing Benefit.

UC is not like wages where if you earn £40k you can live like a prince in hull or a pauper in London - if your rent is less, you get less.

Does the calculation break it down so you can see which element is causing the difference?

Thank you. I'm not changing the rent amount though for both Surrey and Sussex as I want it to compare like for like (although it would be much bigger in Surrey obviously).

Because local housing allowances vary hugely between areas. it doesn't matter whether you are putting rent as £150 for both, one area may only give you £90 of that and the other the full amount.

www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Universal-Credit-housing-costs/How-much-Universal-Credit-housing-costs-element-wi
Explains and has links to the different amounts in different areas.

If you are comparing private rent it will be subject to local housing allowance-

Not sure where in Surrey or Sussex you are so compare Guildford 2 bedroom rate of £222.96 to Reigate £197.12

www.midsussex.gov.uk/media/3881/mdc-lha-rates-april-2019.pdf

www.guildford.gov.uk/localhousingallowance

Thank you, very useful info. I don't think it was taking into account the housing element as in both instances the amount for housing is zero (as the rent value is higher than the max allowed amount)

The rent element of Uc will never be zero ? Everyone who rents gets a rent element which is then added to any other elements you are entitled to. The whole award is then reduced by wages.