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If you’re on Universal Credit, and claiming housing costs to pay your rent, you must let the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) know of any change in your rent.
To make this easier for you, the DWP will send you a ‘To Do’ notification to your journal in the first week of April 2021.
You must complete the ‘To Do’ as soon as possible once it becomes available to avoid missing out on the money you are due. If you did not receive a ‘To-Do’, you will need to report it as a change to your housing costs immediately.
Unfortunately, we can’t tell the DWP on your behalf, but if you need help with your journal please speak to your housing officer.
If you don’t tell the DWP about your rent rise, your Universal Credit won’t be increased to cover your new rent and you could miss out on benefits you are due.
You can find more information about Universal Credit on our website on our ‘Universal Credit‘ page and in our Universal Credit ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ section.
If you receive Housing Benefit you don’t need to do anything. Your benefit will be automatically updated.
If you pay by standing order you need to speak to your bank about increasing your payment.
Make sure you include your rent reference number so your payment reaches your account without delay.
What you need to do
A new ‘Confirm your housing costs’ message will be in your “To-do List” on 5 April 2021.
Sign in to your Universal Credit online journal at www.universal-credit.service.gov.uk/sign-in and follow these simple steps:
- Click on your To-Do List
- Click on the “Confirm your housing costs To-do”.
You will be asked the following questions:
- 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 the following questions:
- “Did your housing costs change on 5 April 2021.” – Select Yes
You will be shown the amount of rent currently recorded on your account and will be asked the following questions:
- “Are you still charged weekly for your rent?” – Select Yes
- “How much is your new rent?” – Enter your weekly rent amount
If you currently have Service Charges recorded on your Universal Credit housing costs the amount you currently have recorded will be displayed and you will also 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
Once you have answered these questions you will see a summary of your answers. If you have made any mistakes you can change your answers.
If you are happy with the information you have provided press confirm to complete the To-Do.
We’ve also created a website step-by-step guide showing you what to do and where to click.
