Pay your rent

If you have online banking, you can easily make a transfer directly to our bank account.

Account name: Connect Housing Association Ltd
Bank: Virgin Money
Account number: 11374158
Sort code: 05-00-20.

Please quote your tenancy number as a reference. You will find this on your rent statement or online rent account.

To set up a Direct Debit call 0300 5000 600 or email hello@connecthousing.org.uk

Download the Allpay app from the Apple Store, Google Play or Windows Store. It is free and you can pay via the app using your payment card.

To request a payment card, call us on 0300 5000 600.

If you have a payment card, you can pay via the Allpay website.

To request a payment card, call us on 0300 5000 600.

With a payment card, you can pay at the counter of any Post Office, or shop displaying the PayPoint logo. Find your nearest PayPoint location here.

To request a payment card, call us on 0300 5000 600.

We can take payment over the phone from most debit or credit cards.

Call us on 0300 5000 600, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (except Wednesdays when we open at 10.30am).

If you have a payment card you can call our 24-hour automated service on 0330 041 6497.

To request a payment card, call us on 0300 5000 600.

Ask your bank to set up a regular standing order to our bank account. Please ask your bank to quote your tenancy number as reference.

Our Bank Details are:

Account name: Connect Housing Association Ltd
Bank: Virgin Money
Account number: 11374158
Sort code: 05-00-20

Are you currently claiming legacy benefits?

Are you currently claiming either one or more of the following:

• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• Income-Based Job Seeker's Allowance
• Income-Related Employment Support Allowance

If your answer is yes to any of the above then you need to know about Universal Credit Managed Migration.

The Department of Work and Pensions is in the process of writing to all legacy benefit claimants and formally issuing a ‘Migration Notice’. This notice gives you three months to make a claim for Universal Credit.

Background to Universal Credit

Universal Credit (UC) was introduced in April 2013 as part of Welfare Reform (which was introduced in 2012 and brought in other changes such as the bedroom tax and benefits cap).

UC is a monthly payment which brings together a range of working-age benefits into one single, monthly payment.

The following benefits and tax credits listed above - Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, JSA and ESA - are ending and being replaced by Universal Credit.

Migrating to Universal Credit

The 3 triggers that will cause you to claim UC are:

• You find out that you'd be better off claiming UC.
• You've had a change in circumstances and have to claim UC.
• You have received a ‘Migration Notice’.

Managed Migration

From April 2024, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has started writing to some people who receive the legacy benefits to let them know that they need to claim Universal Credit instead. This letter - called a Migration Notice – explains what you need to do and when.

To find out when you’re likely to be asked to move to Universal Credit please visit the Government's website.

It's important that you don't do anything until you receive their letter.

You will not be moved automatically. Once you’ve received your Universal Credit Migration Notice letter, you will need to make a claim for Universal Credit to continue to get financial support. There will be a deadline in the letter. This is three months from the date the letter was sent out.

We can help you

Our dedicated Money Matters team is here to help you.

If you have received a Migration Notice, experienced a change in your circumstances or think you will be better off claiming UC, then please contact us in any of the following ways:

• Call us on 0300 500 0600 and ask to speak to a member of the Money Matters team
• Email us on MoneyMattersTeam@connecthousing.org.uk
• Visit our Money Matters page and complete the form.

We will tailor our support to suit your circumstances. We can offer advice and assistance during the initial call or make a referral to open a case which can include visiting you at your home if you need us to.

Additional Information

For more information on UC Managed Migration, please feel free to access the material below:

• Managed Migration video explainer
• The Move to Universal Credit – Managed Migration Booklet 
• Citizens Advice on claiming Universal Credit

The bedroom tax, also known as under-occupation charge, is a reduction in your housing benefit for having more bedrooms that you are considered to need. If you are under-occupying by one bedroom then there will be a 14% deduction from your housing benefit entitlement. If you're under-occupying by two or more bedrooms then there will be a 25% deduction from your housing benefit entitlement.

However, some exemptions from the bedroom tax or under-occupation charge can apply if the following apply to you:

• You are over state pension age.
• You or your partner are over state pension age.
• You are a foster carer and have an extra bedroom to care for a child.
• A bedroom is needed for an overnight carer who does not live with you.
• A bedroom is needed for a disabled family member who cannot share a room with another family member due to their medical condition.

The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) is currently in the midst of migrating all claimants in receipt of legacy benefits onto Universal Credit (UC) and the rules for being exempt from the bedroom tax or under-occupation charge will still apply, however you must ensure to do the following:

• Check your eligibility
• Contact your council
• Seek advice

If the exemption applies to you, please notify Universal Credit when your first make your claim.

If you have already made your claim, please update your UC journal with details of your situation to ensure you remain exempt from bedroom tax or under-occupation charge. Please ensure you do this as soon as you have access to your UC journal.

If you are not able to access your UC claim details via the UC journal, then please make sure you notify your situation to you Work Coach at the Job Centre or call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.

If you need any assistance with this please contact our Money Matters team.