If you don't report any changes to Universal Credit correctly when your rent increases from the beginning of April, it could lead to delays in payments and your housing cost element will be underpaid.
Universal Credit will send you a ‘to-do’ on, or after, Monday 1 April that will be personalised to your circumstances.
But please don’t report the changes until you get the ‘to-do’ on your journal and don’t use the ‘change of circumstances’ to-do, to report the annual rent change.
If you have a phone claim, call Universal Credit on 2 April, to tell them about your rent increase.
How to report your change
Sign in to your Universal Credit account online and into your ‘to-do’ list. Here you’ll be able to report changes to your housing costs by answering the questions below.
Step 1: Date of change - select 'Yes' and press 'Continue'.
You will then be taken to a screen asking you to report the 'Changes to your rent'. You can find these changes and your new amount in your rent increase letter.
Step 2: Changes to your rent - select 'Yes' and enter the amount in your rent increase letter. Click/tap 'Continue'.
You will then be taken to a screen that asks about changes to your service charges. Please note, it’s really important that you add up your service charges correctly. You may be asked to accept the charges after we have verified them. Please do this, as your rent will not be paid until you do.
Step 3: Changes to your service charges - select 'Yes' and enter the amount in your letter. Click/tap 'Continue' to complete the changes.