News – Friday 18 February 2021
Universal Credit (UC)
- Last April the government provided a £20 per week uplift to UC as a response to the coronavirus pandemic. This is due to stop at the end of March 2021.
- If you receive UC, start thinking now about how you will cope with a loss of £20 per week (about £85 per month). Your amount of benefit will also be affected by other factors such as the amounts of your income and your rent.
UC and rent amounts
- Most customers’ rent will be changing from April 2021. We are writing to you to confirm what your new amount will be.
- If you’re claiming UC it is important you tell them about this to ensure you get the right amount of benefit. We can’t tell the DWP for you.
- You need to tell them from the day the rent changes. If you’re charged rent weekly this will be from 5 April 2021; otherwise it will be from 1 April 2021.
- To report it online, log in to your UC account, click:
- your home tab
- report a change of circumstances
- housing costs
- and re-enter your rent details, confirming the date they are changing from.
- Or call the Universal Credit help line on 0800 328 5644.
UC and people claiming disability benefits
- Claimants who were entitled to a ‘Severe Disability Premium’ on other benefits they received were previously unable to claim UC, however this ended from 27 January 2021.
- If you lose a Severe Disability Premium through having to claim UC, you should receive a transitional amount to compensate you for this.
For any advice on the above, please get in touch with us on 0300 123 5544 and ask for benefits advice.