In the past week there’s been a flurry of activity and media coverage, relating to the proposed rollout of Universal Credit and some associated measures. I covered some of these issues in an earlier bulletin, suggesting the previous Secretary of State had caused some confusion. It would appear DWP and…

Hi Over the past three years, I’ve been pursuing DWP to make compensation payments for some of my landlord clients, where applications for Alternative Payment Arrangements (APAs), or “Managed Payments” relating to Universal Credit, have been mishandled, due mainly, to the department’s insistence on a failed policy of “Explicit Consent”…

Good afternoon The House of Commons Library published a report just the other day, in advance of Ministers and DWP being questioned in Parliament and at its Work & Pensions Committee, about the impact of “Full Service” expansion, so far, and what preparations have been made to accommodate the anticipated…

Good afternoon As you know, by December 2018 all areas, UK wide will be offering Universal Credit’s digital or Full Service delivery. The move to Full Service will effectively bring all “legacy benefit” claims for people of “working age” to an end, by December 2023. Thankfully, the process of migration,…

Good morning Esther McVey, Secretary of State for Work & Pensions made a statement last week to the House of Commons relating to the Full Service rollout programme which appears to have been misunderstood. What she announced was a temporary slowdown in the rollout of the “Managed or forced migration”…

Hi The RLA’s Policy Officer, Natalie Williamson issued the following news report last week highlighting DWP has, at long last, decided to permit you direct access to your tenant’s Case Manager, when you have concerns over mounting rent arrears and possible legal action for recovery. It’s hoped the new process…

Good afternoon As “Full Service” delivery expands, and the numbers of claims increase, DWP’s administration is already failing, with even the simplest of tasks. Landlord clients are increasingly raising complaints of DWP agreeing Managed Payment to Landlord (MPTL), commonly called APAs, only to later renege on the promise, when the…

Good morning I was asked recently by one of my Twitter @Billirvine17 followers to clarify two situations with regards to: a) 18-21-year olds access to UC “housing costs”; and b) the position of Temporary Homeless accommodation tenants, again in relation to their housing costs eligibility. As I was equally in…

Good afternoon Earlier today, Government announced, that after its lengthy consultation with stakeholders, it has decided to continue providing financial support for long & short-term “Supported Accommodation” through the welfare benefits system (Housing Benefit). Full details of the announcement can be found here David Orr, Chief Executive of the National Housing…

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…