April 2023: rent update and Universal Credit | News

If you claim Universal Credit to help pay your rent, you must let the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) know about recent rent changes to make sure you don’t miss out on any money due.

Here are the steps you need to take:

• Sign in to your Universal Credit online journal at www.universal-credit.service.gov.uk/sign-in
• A new ‘Confirm your housing costs’ message will be in your To-do list

You will be asked:

• Has your rent changed? – Select Yes

If you have eligible service charges recorded on your Universal Credit account, you will also be asked:

• Have your eligible service charges changed? – Select Yes

You will then be asked:

• Did your housing costs change on 1 April 2023? – Select Yes

You will then be shown the amount of rent currently recorded on your account and asked:

• Are you still charged weekly for your rent? – Select Yes
• How much is your new rent? – Enter the weekly rent amount from the letter we recently sent you.

If you currently have service charges recorded on your Universal Credit housing costs, the currently recorded amount will be shown and you will be asked:

• Are you still charged weekly for your service charges? – Select Yes
• How much are your new eligible service charges? – Enter your weekly eligible service charge amount from the letter we recently sent you.
  
  Once you have answered these questions, you will be shown a summary of your answers. Please double-check the information and edit any mistakes. When you are happy the information is correct, press Confirm to complete.

Housing Benefit

If you currently receive Housing Benefit, we will notify Housing Benefit services at most local authorities, so it is unlikely you will need to do anything. It will state in the letter you recently received about your 2023 rent if you need to notify the council.

Support available

If you need help with making these changes support is available through your online Universal Credit account, or by calling the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.

Incommunities’ customer services team are also available on 0330 175 9540.