Good morning

We are fast approaching April when several changes occur, which will impact on your tenants’ personal benefit entitlement and housing costs. The rises will be warmly welcomed, as many of the families have been struggling to make ends meet, especially considering higher living costs, and energy bills, which…

Good afternoon

I recently provided an update on the Managed Migration timetable and how and when it would be conducted. The game plan is to transfer around 1 million more “legacy” benefit recipients to Universal Credit by no later than March 2025.

It’s been recognised for some time, this…

Good morning

I’m delighted to confirm the following training courses, in both Glasgow & Edinburgh are available to book.

Glasgow Course – 21st February in Tollcross Housing Association’s offices – How Universal Credit is contributing to rent arrears. Edinburgh Training Centre – Two courses covering a) Universal Credit’s View Article

Good afternoon

DWP published yesterday, a detailed timetable of how and when all “legacy” claimants, will be forced to migrate to Universal Credit, giving up, in the process, their existing legacy awards.

From May 2023, the department’s focus was on notifying Tax Credit recipients, of the need to transition. DWP…

Good morning

I’m delighted to advise you of our latest course, which we hope to deliver both in Glasgow and Edinburgh (click link for details) on 21st February and 6th March respectively.

The course, like most we run, focuses on Universal Credit from both tenant & landlord perspective.…

Good afternoon

DWP published details yesterday of the likely LHA rates (weekly and monthly) which are due to come into effect on 1st April 2024. The press release refers to the figures as being “indicative” of what’s likely to be confirmed in the up-rating order on 31st January.

You…

Good morning

In earlier bulletins, I highlighted the chaos & hardship caused by DWP’s “Risk Review” team. More recently, I’ve received several referrals concerning DWP’s “Enhanced Review” checks, which are causing UC to be unfairly refused at point of claim or existing awards being retrospectively reduced or cancelled, oftentimes, illegally.

…

Good morning

I’m sure you will have heard, by now, the Chancellor presented his Autumn Statement 2023 in Parliament last week, and, amongst other things, confirmed:

*Universal Credit and other “working age” benefits (e.g., JSA, Income Support) will be uprated in April 2024 by 6.7%, in line with September’s inflation…

Good morning

In recent weeks, I’ve spent a large part of my time speaking to groups of social and private landlords, from Dundee to London, about the migration of “legacy benefit” claimants to Universal Credit. The training sessions have all been well attended, mainly by housing officers, their assistants, plus…

Good morning

Single tenants entering and being released from prison often encounter problems trying to keep their UC award going, and their “housing costs element” (HCE) continue being paid to their landlord. Or, at the point of release, are told they must make a “new” claim, when, in many cases,…