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I recently wrote about the DWP’s Targeted Review of Universal Credit claims and awards, which is being implemented nationwide. This latest bulletin highlights several concerning features regarding the handling of cases by the Enhanced Review (ERT) and “Complaints and Resolutions” (CRT) teams. Both have caused significant disruption…

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One of my landlord clients recently asked DWP to correct an error in its tenant’s housing costs, caused by the unwarranted application of a Non-dependent deduction (NDD). The tenant was a PIP (Daily Living) recipient and, as such, was entitled to have the usual NDD charge waived in…

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The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error, and Recovery) Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 2nd December 2025 and represents the latest phase in the Government’s plan to implement a range of measures to strengthen the integrity of the social security system, prevent overpayments, minimise fraud and ensure that…

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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has released updated guidance regarding Alternative Payment Arrangements (APA), commonly known as Direct Payments. This revision follows a judicial review, initiated by Mr Roberts, a tenant of Guinness Housing Association, who challenged DWP’s failure to consult him before redirecting his…

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A disabled claimant found himself homeless and destitute as a direct result of the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) administrative shortcomings, apparent lack of understanding and empathy towards vulnerable individuals.

I was approached recently by a 58-year-old man, desperate for help after becoming homeless and penniless, and…

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Housing officers, welfare rights advisers, and financial inclusion staff frequently enquire about the expected timescales for responses from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or local councils regarding Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) requests or Housing Benefit appeals. Unfortunately, there are no statutory or formally prescribed timeframes for these…

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The issue outlined below is a recurring theme in the Universal Credit (UC) journals of thousands of tenant claimants across England, and to a lesser extent in Scotland & Wales. This is evident from the numerous emails received from landlord clients. The rejection of “housing costs” occurs both…

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Some of you may recall reading an earlier bulletin concerning a Housing Benefit success, where West Granton Housing Co-operative (WGHC) successfully challenged a housing benefit refusal for one of its elderly residents. Earlier this year, the Co-op found itself navigating another complex case for one of its…

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As part of our programme of Universal Credit & Housing benefit-related courses, we have arranged three new dates, two of which will be held in Glasgow and one in Edinburgh. Each course is designed to improve the knowledge of frontline staff, tasked with assisting tenants to tackle…

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Our clients at Albyn Housing Association have demonstrated, for the 2nd time in recent months, the importance of assisting tenants to maximise entitlement to housing costs. Details of the earlier case can be found here

On this occasion, a Housing Officer (HO) assisted a tenant in claiming…