Universal Credit is replacing 6 other benefits with a single monthly payment if you're out of work or on a low income.
What happens to my Housing Benefit when I move to Universal Credit?

When you apply for Universal Credit, your Housing Benefit will stop unless you are:

  • Living in temporary housing provided by the City of Wolverhampton Council
    or
  • Living in supported housing where you get care or support

If you do not fit into one of the above categories, your Housing Benefit will continue for 2 more weeks after you apply for Universal Credit.

What happens to my Council Tax Support when I move to Universal Credit?

When you apply for Universal Credit, you will be asked if you need help with paying your Council Tax. If you say yes, the council will get the information they need from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), we will then use this information to decide if you can get Council Tax Support. It can take up to 6 weeks for the DWP to supply us with this information.

What changes do I need to report to the Council?

You don’t need to send the council your Universal Credit details because the DWP will send this information automatically. If we need more information for your Council Tax Support claim, we’ll let you know.

However, if your household changes or you move, you must inform the council to update your Council Tax account and Council Tax Support. You can report changes online using the links below.

Report a change for Benefits

Register or tell us you have moved

What happens to my Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) when I move to Universal Credit?

To get a DHP, you need to be getting Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit. When your Housing Benefit stops, your DHP will also stop. The council will wait for information about your Universal Credit to see if you can still get a DHP. This can take up to 6 weeks. If you can’t get a DHP anymore or the amount of DHP you get changes, the council will let you know.

What if I was paying back a Housing Benefit Overpayment?

When your Housing Benefit ends, if you still owe money for an overpayment of Housing Benefit, the council will tell the DWP. The DWP will decide if they will take money from your Universal Credit to pay it back. If not, you will get an invoice for the amount you owe. You can pay this back in instalments, and the invoice we send you will tell you how to do that.

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