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irESA to Universal Credit: managed migration form - HOUSING QUESTIONS

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1 day 3 hours ago #302320 by twinkerzzz
Hi

Relating to irESA to Universal Credit: managed migration form - HOUSING QUESTIONS:-

1 GENERAL JOURNAL QUESTION: I havent initiated the application yet, so unsure about journal. Does each section have it's own journal or is it one journal for everything accessible at each question section ? Can you remommend a good resource guide to using the journal ?

2. HOUSING QUESTION: RENT FREE WEEKS ; I don't know what 'rent free' weeks means. My social housing rent is paid by housing benefit direct to my landlord monthly. How do i know if i have rent free weeks ?

3. HOUSING QUESTION: SERVICE CHARGE ; My social housing annual rent increase notice itemises a weekly service charge of £15.64 which is constituted as part of the total charge rent per week (£181.79 pw)
The Universal credit managed migration form asks 3 questions:
1 Do you have eligable service charges ?
2 How much are eligable service charges for your property ?
3 How often are you charged eligable service charges ?
Do i put down the service charge element itemised in my annual social housing rent increase notice
OR
Does this section refer to something else entierly, such as a service charge not included as part of a charged rent. I don't want to confuse the total rent amount i am asking UC to pay - i dont know how to answer this question.

4. HOUSING QUESTION: THE COUNCIL TAX QUESTION :
The Universal credit managed migration form asks 1 question i dont understand :
Q2 - Have you applied for a reduction in your council tax ?
My council tax benefit is automatically processed to £0.00 per year because i claim housing benefit from my local council as part of my current irESA. My annual council tax notice itemises an 'adjustment': single person discount 25%.
I dont understand what to put in the UC question. YES - i currently recieve the reduction. BUT when i submit my UC application, ONLY THEN must i notify the council and re-apply for Council Tax benefit, requesting a single person discount. So what do i put here ?
YES
or
NO BUT WILL APPLY

Thanks - help appreicated.
twzzz

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22 hours 46 minutes ago #302338 by David
Hi twinkerzzz

To answer your questions--
1. Here is a short video made by Citizens Advice regarding the UC Journal-

2. & 3. You will need to contact your Housing Association regarding this. Most Social Landlords have Financial Inclusion Officers to assist with such queries. Social Landlords service charges have been increasing more than rents in recent years.
4. You need to apply again for assistance with Council Tax. Unfortunately members of this Forum have reported an unpleasant surprise as Councils are using the move to UC as an excuse for charging a greater % of the Council Tax bill to disabled claimants. Whilst previously ESA premiums were all disregarded some Councils are declaring the UC LCWRA element as income. North Yorkshire comes to mind immediately. But it varies from Council to Council and often according to political party.

David

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