Universal Credit and Your Rent

Universal Credit supports you if you’re on a low income or out of work. It’s a single monthly payment to help with your living costs and includes a housing element to cover your rent.

If you’re receiving Universal Credit or are about to apply, here’s everything you need to know about how it works with your ateb tenancy.

How to Make a Claim

Claims for Universal Credit are made online via the gov.uk website.

You will need:

  • An email address and phone number
  • A bank account
  • Details of your rent and tenancy (see below)

📌 Remember: You’ll also need to make a separate claim for Council Tax Reduction through your local authority.

Paying Your Rent on Universal Credit

When you claim Universal Credit, your housing costs will be paid to you, not directly to ateb. You must then pay your full rent to ateb every month in advance, once you receive your payment.

If you’re worried about managing this, you can ask for your housing costs to be paid directly to ateb through an Alternative Payment Arrangement (APA). You may be eligible if:

  • You’re in rent arrears
  • You have a vulnerability or complex needs
  • You’re struggling with money management

You can also speak to us if you think an APA would help — we’re here to support you.

How We Can Support You

Community Welfare Coordinator

Our team can support you by:

  • Helping you apply for Universal Credit for the first time
  • Supporting you to request an advance payment
  • Loaning digital devices and helping you use them
  • Helping resolve issues with your Universal Credit journal & apply to set payment schedules to fortnightly.

Housing Coordinator

Your Housing Coordinator can:

  • Help you understand how your rent is paid under Universal Credit
  • Support you with opening a bank account
  • Explain how and when to pay your rent
  • Help you gather the right tenancy information
  • Signpost you to further support if needed

📞 Contact us on 0800 854568 or email [email protected]

Your Responsibilities

When claiming Universal Credit, you’ll need to:

  • Make your claim online (Start a claim)
  • Pay your rent to ateb every month
  • Keep your rent account up to date and in advance

You’ll also need to provide accurate tenancy details, including:

  • Your rent amount and frequency
  • Your tenancy start date and terms
  • Confirmation that you live in your home

🧾 You can find this information in your yearly rent letter or by logging into your My ateb Account.

What If You’re Moving from Legacy Benefits?

By the end of March 2026, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) plans to move everyone receiving:

  • Income Support
  • Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance
  • Housing Benefit
    …onto Universal Credit.

If you receive a migration notice, you will need to make a claim for Universal Credit within 3 months.

🔗 Visit our Universal Credit Migration page for full details and support.

Other Important Information

Managed Payment to Landlord (MPTL)

If a customer is vulnerable or in 2+ months of rent arrears, ateb can ask the DWP to pay the housing costs directly to us. This is known as a Managed Payment to Landlord. You can contact us to discuss this.

Contacting the DWP

Landlords can only speak to the DWP about your Universal Credit claim if:

  • You have given explicit consent, OR
  • A managed payment is already in place

If you’re having issues with your journal or feel your Universal Credit payment is incorrect, you’ll need to contact the Jobcentre directly.
🔗 Find your local Jobcentre

Need Help?

If you need advice or support:

We’re here to help you stay on top of your rent and make the most of your Universal Credit.

Get involved with ateb

Pay Your Rent

Report a Repair

Request an Appointment

Talking to us is easy.

For any enquiries or issues, email us at [email protected]

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