Do you have a UC tenant incurring arrears whilst in prison?

Do you have a tenant that is on Universal Credit and incurring arrears whilst in prison?

We have been receiving a number of queries from landlords that have tenants that are in prison, as a result of their imprisonment the tenants are incurring rent arrears subsequently resulting in them losing their homes and the landlord is once again out of pocket.

According to the gov.uk website prisoners on Universal Credit that are in prison for less than 6 months can continue to have their Housing Costs paid covering the claimants full rental entitlement.

The landlord will however need to complete a UC47 and highlight the fact that the claimant is in prison, the claimants work coach will then contact DWPs Prison Work coach in order for the request to be processed.

For more information on circumstances on how Universal Credit can be paid to the landlord, follow the below link:

If Landlords want to request housing element direct to them all the info is on gov.uk