Universal Credit housing element confusion

[lolit]

I live with a live-in landlord. I was recieving the 1 bedroom LHA rate on the housing element, until I noticed I mistakenly had my landlord as another claimant because I put him down as the person who lives with me in my claim (I took the question literally).

After removing him for my claim, I am now apparently only entitled to the shared accomodation rate, which covers only half of my rent... I am straight up suicidal right now because I will end up homeless...

My question is, why did this happen? Did UC assume that the person living with me is my partner and I was entitled to the 1 bedroom LHA rate because of that or what? When I was filling it out it never asked me the relationship of this person to me. Please can someone tell me how to fix this because I cannot pay my rent right now and it's making me suicidal

Thank you. I'm sorry if this is a stupid question, but if DHP does not pay it long-term, then how do people who get the shared accommodation rate pay their rent? Because my rent is literally almost half of the shared accommodation rate despite only renting a room! Rent is bloody expensive...

It’s not a stupid question at all. In truth, I don’t know. Rents are so high, as you say, and the LHA just isn’t high enough. What can make a bit of a difference with renting a room, is that bills are usually included, whereas when you rent self-contained accommodation, you have to pay bills out of your Jobseekers Allowance/UC etc. Unfortunately, benefits for a single person are low. Too low. Then there’s the benefit cap. know of single people who receive the one bed room rate, are unemployed and are benefit capped, meaning their benefits are cut to get them down to the level of the cap.

Do apply for DHP. Have a look on your Council’s website and you are likely to be able to apply online. If awarded, that will help for now. You may want to have a chat with your landlord to see if you can negotiate a reduction in your rent. I appreciate this may be a non-starter, but your landlord may be amenable if they are keen to keep you. How is job hunting going? If you are unable to work through illness or disability, do look at informing UC and also look at PIP as either of these being awarded will boost your income.
If you are looking for work, consider asking the council if they have employment advisors who can support you.

If you are looking to move to cheaper accommodation, do check the LHA for the area first. You may be able to get DHP for a deposit, rent in advance and moving costs. You would not need to repay this.

Check with the Council to see what financial support they can offer to residents. This may be known as the household support fund. It’s not a complete solution to your problem, but it could help a bit. They should be able to issue foodbank vouchers too.

I can’t think of anything else this minute. Oh yes, consider putting your budget on the money saving expert forum to see if anyone can give you any ideas on how to cut costs. Someone may have a good idea as to a way out of your predicament. I don’t claim to have all the answers.

I really wish you well.

Apologies, you may well be in work. In which case, you’d be looking to increase your income and /find cheaper accommodation. Both are easier said than done. Look, I don’t know how for sure how long a DHP might be awarded for, I just think it’s unlikely it would be awarded very long-term. But put in an application and go from there.

Thank you for all your help. I actually can't work right now due to severe depression, I have just been awarded LWCRA so that's something that can cover the rest of my rent at least, but the payment doesn't kick in until a few months, so hopefully I can get the DHP payment to tie me over in the meantime.

Hopefully I can also get PIP due to depression, but I heard that is a nightmare.

Well done for sorting that! That’s a big achievement. I would have thought you’d stand a good chance of getting a DHP for a few months at least.

Good plan to apply for PIP. Do consider getting help with the forms. This could be the CAB, or google to see what free organisations in your area might help. Websites for your condition may have advice packs. Facebook has some great groups. I always think it’s a good idea to get some help as the forms can be overwhelming and you won’t necessarily know the best way of phrasing things or the details of your condition to draw out. And sometimes; people are so used to managing their condition, they forget how many changes they make to the way they do things or how different aspects of life differ from those without the disability. Do use separate sheets of paper if needs be, to write your answers.

Good luck. 😊

I sympathise OP, my partner is in a very similar situation.
He cannot work due to OCD/MH issues, but has been rejected previously for the LWCRA, only gets LWC. He was reassessed in Feb but still no decision, so he only gets the single person standard allowance. He lived with his mum and stepdad, but they had to downsize this summer due to both being too ill to work, but not qualifying for UC as both get a private workplace pension and PIP. They moved to a outright owned static, but only one bedroom so partner couldn't move with them and had to find a private rental as wouldn't be council priority as a single male, despite having a child as hes not resident parent. He cannot move in with me as i live with a family member due to my own ill health and inability to work, i'd lose my legacy benefits etc due to change of circumstance plus family member not willing.
A one bed shithole came up just in time at £475 a month. It was the cheapest option listed for all the months he was looking and he'd been rejected due to circumstance on other properties due to high demand. LHA one bedroom rate would have been £40 a month short, but as he's only just 33, he only gets shared accom rate, leaving him nearly £180 short on rent a month. His £390 standard allowance has to pay for everything, the rent shortfall, council tax, water, gas, electric, his phone contract he can't get out of from before he was made homeless, food, toiletries, and internet is a necessity as he's housebound by his illness so its his only leisure and social option.
Needless to say, it doesn't cover it. I'm buying all his food, toiletries etc and give him money every week just to get by, probably the region of £300 a month. He's in tears telling me he'd be homeless and dead by now without me, its absolutely awful. Thankfully as i share all living costs with family i live with i can just about afford to help, but we have no idea what will happen when his rental agreement ends in Feb, where he'll go etc. The flat isn't fit for habitation with all sorts of issues like a leaking roof, damp, broken sockets, no extractor fan in the windowless internal bathroom, and the worst, rats. He's become seriously ill with depression and stress of it all, lost weight he couldn't afford to lose to begin with etc.

Housing in this country is seriously broken and it's killing people.