Universal Credit if parents lending 6 mths upfront

[Jummly]

Hi, I'm a single Mum been stuck abroad for a year and now have no income. My parents have very kindly offered to save us and get us back to the UK(Northern Ireland). As I'm not likely to get a rental agreement until I get universal credit set up and find a job they've offered to lend me 6 months rent payments to pay up front. Does anyone know if I would still get the housing benefit element of universal credit if I did this, to pay them back? Thank you.

There is no housing benefit only the housing costs so if you were honest then No you wouldn't get that element of it.
But it seems to be a law unto itself so I would ask the Job centre

Yes you should be able to claim housing costs providing the tenancy is in your name. It's based on your liability to pay the rent, not whether you rent has actually been paid. If your parents take the tenancy you couldn't claim though.

If you have been out of the country and want to claim Universal credit then you will first need to sit the habitual residency test. This may slow down your claim.

Thanks everyone.
Babyroobs do you have experience of this and know how long the delay could be please? As it's less than a year since my tax credits stopped I'm hoping it can be classed as a temporary absence so I won't have to wait three months.