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Last week, I represented my client Miss X at a First-tier tribunal, concerning DWP’s refusal to award “housing costs” for the property she occupied, and which was purchased, in September 2023, specifically for her use by her parents. Her need for accommodation started in…

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Several website members have enquired about the recent High Court Judgement of R (Roberts) v Sec of State for W & Ps [2025] EWHC51 (Admin) and asked, to what extent, if any, the judgement might affect their ability to secure Managed Payments for the monthly rental charge, and…

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Our clients at Albyn Housing Association (AHA) recently contacted us, seeking support with a tenant’s claim for Universal Credit “housing costs”. The tenant had originally claimed Housing Benefits in November 2023, with the association’s help, on the basis, that the property in question qualified under the “supported accommodation”…

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My last bulletin highlighted DWP’s plans to add 3,100 staff to its Enhanced Review team, bringing the total to nearly 6,000 strong. As explained, it intends to review 8 million current awards of Universal Credit, starting from April 2025, in the hope it can stem the rise…

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This was an unusual appeal, involving 16 tenants and demands for £235,000 in alleged overpayments. Allegedly, because there never was any overpayment in the first place nor should my clients and their tenants have been put through 3 years of unnecessary worry, anxiety, and cost. DWP subsequently accepted it had made…

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Our March bulletin explaining the uprating order and its impact on tenants’ personal and housing cost awards, attracted considerable attention and discussion.

Since then, several private members have raised concerns over some tenants failing to report the change in rent charge, causing rent arrears. They also question…

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I recently helped a housing association client, located in London, with an appeal involving UC and succeeded in having UC housing costs, restored and backdated to July 2021. The appeal affected 16 of its tenants and should produce around £225k…

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DWP has created helpful information on its website to assist staff engaged in the process of migrating legacy benefit recipients to Universal Credit. It also compliments the information I’ve previously provided in earlier website bulletins

How is it designed to operate?

The process by which a legacy benefit…

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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…

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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