What Happens to My Rent Under Universal Credit?
When you move to Universal Credit, your rent is no longer paid directly to us. Instead, it’s paid to you, and you are responsible for paying your rent to us, including any service charges.
Benefit Cap
The Welfare Reform and Work Act (2016) has introduced some changes to the benefit cap (maximum amounts of benefits claimed in one year), since November 2016.
New benefit cap levels are:
- £22,000 a year for couples with or without children and lone parents
- £14,753 for single people without children
If your total amount of out of work benefits, plus child benefit and child tax credits or Universal Credit comes to more than the maximum amount allowed, your Housing Benefit or Universal Credit Housing costs will be reduced.
For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/benefit-cap
Managed Migration
The government is gradually moving people from the above benefits (called ‘legacy benefits’) to Universal Credit. This final step is called Managed Migration.
If you’re receiving a legacy benefit, you don’t need to do anything until you get a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). This letter is called a Migration Notice.
What is a Migration Notice?
It’s a letter telling you:
- Your current benefit is ending
- You need to apply for Universal Credit
Important:
- Don’t ignore the letter. Your old benefits will stop.
- You’ll have 3 months to make your Universal Credit claim.
- Some people may not get this letter until 2028, depending on their situation.
If you get a Migration Notice and need help, support is available. You don’t have to go through it alone.
Click here to read out guide to Managed Migration.
This guide gives you the key information you need about the Universal Credit Managed Migration process, but it doesn’t cover everything. Getting independent advice from a qualified source will give you the information you need to make a successful move onto Universal Credit.