Universal Credit claim question

Hello - I just want to check something about moving to Universal Credit. My son, for whom I am Appointee, will likely move to new flat in January or February which is in another borough. He is currently on IR ESA and Housing Benefit. He has NOT received a Migration notice to move to Universal Credit.

I see on the website entitledto that it says “if you are already claiming Housing Benefit and you move into a new local authority you should be asked to claim Universal Credit.”

So does that mean I have to claim Housing Benefit in the new borough and then would be asked to claim Universal Credit ?

I had originally thought I would just put in the claim for Universal Credit when my son moves but that might be considered a “voluntary migration” rather than a “natural migration” which would mean he would not get the transitional SDP element.

David wrote:

Hi Anneb, To answer your question -"So does that mean I have to claim Housing Benefit in the new borough and then would be asked to claim Universal Credit ?" Yes, you would have to claim UC for the housing costs ( rent )

Hi David - But would I have to try to claim Housing Benefit first and be told by someone that I have to claim Universal Credit ?

David wrote:

You will need to claim UC. You can get this confirmed with your present LA before you leave when you phone to finalise the last payment.

My son's Housing Benefit is paid 4 weekly in arrears directly to the landlord. I wasn't going to tell Housing Benefit that my son was moving until the day after I'd claimed UC because I was worried about telling Housing Benefit as it's a legacy benefit and I thought that we mustn't tell any legacy benefit that we're stopping it before making the claim for UC as that would mess up the UC claim ?