Afternoon

As you may already have gathered, the first stage of the Universal Credit, rent updating exercise, has not gone as well as hoped. I discovered this when several of my clients started emailing and phoning on Tuesday, having received, in some cases, 200+ demands for verification via their portals…

In order to access your existing account on the new website, you will need to create a new password. To do this:

Go to the reset password page and enter your email address used on the old website. You will receive an email with a link you can click to set your…

Good morning

As I’m sure you’re aware, under Housing Benefit/LHA rules there are a number of scenarios where tenants and family members can be absent from home for weeks/months without any adverse effect on the household HB/LHA entitlement, Some, but not all of these concessions, are available, as well, under…

Monday 29th April was a red letter day in Ashton-Under-Lyne’s, Job Center Plus iffice, as it was from there that the DWP decided to launch its first Universal Credit Pathfinder project, and kick-off a massive exercise designed to revolutionise the social security system in the UK.  Amongst other things to…

Briefing note aimed at frontline staff dealing with tenants and families where there is someone with quite severe health problems that affect their ability to get around or operate independently.

Click here if you wish to view the briefing note

Benefits Cap update for frontline staff focusing on the staged implementation, the impact already experienced by 2400 tenants and the overall likely impact on tenants

Click here to read the full article as a PDF

I’m sure you’re already aware that the Local Finance Act November 2012 makes provision for the localisation of a Council Tax Support scheme in England.  In Wales similar provisions have been made for a Council Tax Reduction scheme.  In doing so, the Government has effectively abolished the national Council Tax…

The above headline title sounds a bit like an American election pledge, but it’s perhaps worth reminding those private landlords engaged in providing accommodation to Local Housing Allowance (LHA) tenants tat, even assuming the Coalition Governments meets its ambitious target of abolishing Housing Benefit (HB) by 2017, it will remain…

LGO report – maladministration found – compensation agreed of £1800 – LGO criticises council for its mishandling of the landlord’s complaint

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LGO report – maladministration agreed – compensation paid – council found to have paid HB wrongly to tenant.

Download Full Report