Moving in 

New Lambeth Council Online Tenant account

Lambeths new online tenant account allows you to  have further access to your rent account and housing services. Some of the services you can now access are; View and update contact details, set up a direct debit online, view your rent balance and request a credit refund if your rent account is in credit (4 weeks credit). For a full list of the services available on the housing online account, please click Housing Online account.

Benefit changes in the Government’s Autumn Statement. This includes changes to Universal Credit:

Social Welfare Training’s at a glance guide to benefit changes in the Autumn Statement 2022 

Changes:

  • Uprating of benefits
  • Additional costs of living payments
  • National Living Wage (NLW) and National Minimum Wage (NMW) 2023 Uprating
  • Increased Benefit cap
  • Relaxing of Universal Credit Mortgage Interest Rules
  • Managed Migration onto Universal Credit
  • Merging of Pension Credit and Housing Benefit
  • Household Support Fund
  • In-Work Conditionality for Universal Credit claimants
  • SWP: additional investment in tackling fraud and error
  • The Welfare Cap
  • Social Housing Rent Increases Cap

Universal Credit (UC)

Universal Credit and Housing Benefit 

Universal Credit was introduced into Lambeth on the 8th February 2016. Universal Credit is replacing the following six means-tested legacy benefits:

  • Housing benefit
  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Child Tax Credit
  • Working Tax Credit

If you are currently receiving any of the above benefits you will remain on these benefits until such time that you have a change of circumstnaces which would result in you needing to apply for Universal Credit – known as Natural Migration – or if DWP write to you and ask you to start claiming Universal Credit – known as Managed Migration. 

Please note; you can only apply for Housing Benefit if you are of pensionable age or you are living in supported, sheltered or temporary housing. If you do not meet the above criteria and require help with your housing costs you will need to make a claim for Universal Credit.

If you are a couple of which only 1 of you is of pensionable age, you can only apply for Housing Benefit or continue to claim Housing Benefit if you are already in receipt of this benefit if one of you has reached state  pension age and started claiming Pension Credit (for you as a couple) or if you are currently in supported, shletered or temporary housing. If you do not meet this criteria but need help with your housing costs you will need to make a claim for Universal Credit.

If you are of pensionable age, are a couple both of pensionable age, or a mixed-age couple but qualify under the above criteria and require help with your Housing Costs you would need to make a claim for Housing Benefit and not Universal Credit.

Universal Credit is a benefit managed online and claimed via Universal Credit online. Whilst it is designed to be claimed online there is provision to make a claim by telephone or face-to-face. 

Universal Credit is paid once a month, usually into your bank, building society or credit union account. It usually takes around 5 weeks to get your first payment (1 month for the assessment period and upto 7 days for the first payment to be paid) and once you have made your application for Universal Credit if you were previously receiving Housing Benefit you will receive a free-of-charge 2 week ‘run-on’ to help with your housing costs. 

The amount you get depends on your circumstances such as being single/being in a couple, having children, a disability, working or having housing costs like rent (known on UC as your ‘housing element’) The total amount you receive may be reduced by certain incomes you may have, such as earnings. The amount may be increased for carers, children with disability or those with certain levels of incapacity for work.

When making a claim for Universal Credit or Housing Benefit Tenants will be required to provide information on where they live and how much it costs, what income they have (including employment and benefit payments), bank details (including information on any savings accounts, stocks, shares or ISA’s) and information regarding anybody else who lives with them so please ensure you have this information to hand when making an application. 

If you are applying for Universal Credit for the first time you will be required to ‘verify yourself’ so please ensure you have proof of identity documents such as passport, driving licence and birth certificate. In some instances you can verify your identity using your bank card or by answering some select ‘credit information’ about yourself. If you are not able to be verified online you will either be given a date/time for a telephone verification meeting or be requested to attend your local Job Centre (for CETRA Residents this would be Streatham Job Centre) to attend a verification meeting.

Any Resident wishing to make a claim for Housing Benefit or Universal Credit, or who have any questions about either of these benefits and the claim process are advised to contact the CETRA Housing Office on 020 7926 7555 or cedars@lambeth.gov.uk and speak with the Housing Officer.

Please be advised that if you require assistance with your Housing costs, either via Housing Benefit or Universal Credit, the likelihood is that you would also need to make a claim for Council Tax Support. This claim can be made together on the same claim form if you are applying for Housing Benefit or seperately if you are applying for Universal Credit. Please visit the Lambeth Council website for further information on Council Tax Support 

Applying for housing benefit

You may be eligible for housing benefit to help with your rent. You are responsible for making the claim and for informing the Housing Benefit office of any changes in your circumstances, such as changes to the people living in your home or changes in income.

TMO tenants can apply for Housing Benefit if they are on income support, invalidity benefit, in receipt of family credit or working with a low income.

The amount of Housing Benefit you receive depends on your income. If you are in receipt of Housing Benefit, you will still be liable to pay for your water rates and in some cases, heating and hot water charges and a proportion of your rent charge.

If this applies to you, the Housing Benefit form needs to be returned completed along with proof of your income. Housing Benefit will not assess your case without proof of income. Please note that you are liable to pay your rent charges until your Housing Benefit has been assessed. If you do not fill in renewal forms or do not provide of income on time, Housing Benefit will not backdate your claim, which means that you will be responsible for paying full rent for that period.

 

Paying your rent

The rent should be paid on a regular basis. If you choose to pay monthly, it should be paid one month in advance. If you choose to pay weekly, rent is due on Monday, one week in advance. There are many ways to pay your rent, regardless of what method you choose, it is your responsibility to ensure the rent is paid on time.

For a list of payment methods, Click here .

 

Keeping track of your rent

All residents can contact CETRA at any time to print a statement out or to ask for an update on their rent balance.

Lambeth also send out rent statements four times a year, or you can telephone the Lambeth Service Centre on 020 7926 6000 or email Central Income Team on citenquiries@lambethliving.org.uk, for a balance update.

 

Rent arrears

The tenancy conditions, which you sign at the start of your tenancy mean that by law, you must pay your rent regularly and not get into debt. If you do not pay your rent on time or you do not pay at all we will have to take legal action and we could end your tenancy.

You will also not be legible for any amenities such as parking permits, garages and sheds.