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.

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The Residential Landlords Association has just published an article which I prepared. It focuses on the issue of HB Overpayments, and, the oftentimes, overzealous attempts by Council Housing Benefit sections to recover large sums of money, sometimes many thousands of £’s, directly from landlords. In the case highlighted £22K was involved.

Nationally,…

See link to RLA press release confirming DWP will be applying the 8 weeks’ rule during the Pathfinder exercises.
http://news.rla.org.uk/landlords-welcome-direct-payment-announcement/

This represents a significant climb-down by the Government, and explains why they chose to bury the announcement in an obscure UC circular. It also suggests the…