If you are moving onto Universal Credit through the managed migration process then you will get a two week run-on of Housing Benefit.
If you are making a claim for Universal Credit for any other reason, then you may be entitled to a 2 week ‘Transition to UC Housing Payment. The rules for this are outlined below.
Who can get this payment?
- You were the HB claimant (i.e. you are not claiming UC after separating from your partner who was the main HB claimant), and
- Your HB has come to an end because you claimed UC – not for any other reason, and
- There is no gap between HB ending and the date you make a successful claim for UC, and
- You are not one of the people who can’t get it (see the end of this page).
How much Housing Benefit is awarded in this 2 week payment?
If you live in social housing (housing association or council), you will get the maximum HB (gross rent minus any ineligible service charges, non-dependant deductions and under-occupancy deduction (Bedroom Tax)) even if you were only on partial HB before.
If you live in a private tenancy, you will get the maximum HB at the appropriate Local Housing Allowance rate, minus any non-dependant deductions even if you were only on partial HB before.
If you live in social housing (housing association or council), you will get the maximum HB (gross rent minus any ineligible service charges, non-dependant deductions and under-occupancy deduction (Bedroom Tax)) even if you were only on partial HB before.
How is it paid and do I have to apply for it?
The two week HB run-on should be awarded automatically – you should not have to apply for it.
If you haven’t moved home:
It will be paid in the same way as your HB was being paid, either direct to you or to the landlord. It should be paid automatically.
If you’ve moved home in the same local authority area:
It will be paid directly to you, even if you’re staying within the same local authority and even if it’s the same landlord. You will need to provide your bank account details to your Housing Benefit department if your HB hasn’t been paid directly to you up to now.
If you’ve moved to a new local authority area
It will be paid by the local authority you moved from. You will need to provide your bank account details to your old Housing Benefit department if your HB hasn’t been paid directly to you up to now.
Example:
Penny has been getting Income-Related ESA and HB. She’s made a claim for Universal Credit because she has had her first baby.
Her HB award is ending because she has claimed UC, and there is no gap, she is therefore entitled to a HB two week run on – so her HB entitlement will not end until two weeks after the date she claimed UC.
Who won’t get the payment?
- If you are moving out of ‘specified accommodation’ or have been housed in ‘temporary accommodation’, or
- If you are claiming UC because your partner has died, where it was your partner who was the HB claimant, or
- If you are claiming UC because you are becoming a couple with someone already on UC – because this isn’t a new claim for UC.
TOP TIP: Moving home doesn’t always trigger the need to claim Universal Credit