UC - What to do when APA Request is Declined?
Universal Credit

Herald
Herald
1 Thanks
7 Posts
3 years ago
0
I have a tenant in 4 months arrears who claims Universal Credit. She last paid rent in January and has since claimed her bank account has been frozen under money laundering rules. I therefore applied online to Universal Credit for a Alternative Payment Arrangement, but was rejected within a couple of days with the following email:

Direct rent payments could not be set up for one or more of the following reasons:

  • your tenant does not get Universal Credit
  • your tenant does not claim housing support for the address you supplied
  • your tenant must be in at least one month's worth of arrears, accrued over two or more months
  • One of the tier 1 or 2 conditions haven't been met

I know she definitely receives Universal Credit for the address I supplied, she's in 4 months of arrears and fulfils several Tier 1 criteria including addiction problems, multiple debts and domestic violence. So I don't understand how the request could possibly be turned down.

Now another month's rent is due and the debt is just increasing. Can I re-apply to Universal Credit with the new debt figure? Should I keep doing so each month? Should I make a complaint to UC? Any advice from other landlords in this position would be really helpful!

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