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…

Good morning In one of my recent posts I explained, how one of my Housing Association clients, with some assistance from me, secured payment from DWP, for its mistake of paying Universal Credit’s “Housing Costs” to a “friend” of the tenant, only for him to misuse the money, putting the tenant…

Good morning The following link https://www.lgo.org.uk/decisions/benefits-and-tax/housing-benefit-and-council-tax-benefit/17-012-147#point2 relates to a Local Government Ombudsman decision, relating to Housing Benefit (LHA), and the failure of Liverpool City Council to fulfil its earlier decision, to redirect payments to the Landlord, rather than the tenant, by naming the landlord “payee”. The decision to do so, was…

Good morning DWP has just published, through what is known as a “Commencement Order”, a list of the areas in GB which will transition to “Full Service” delivery, between February to April 2018. You may already be aware of an approximate date from your local authority, but, I would recommend…

Good morning In a few of my earlier bulletins, I refer to the process of making formal complaints to the DWP and have highlighted cases where landlord clients have followed my advice, only to be effectively ignored by DWP. On Wednesday, last week, I received a referral from one of…

Good afternoon DWP has just recently published its DRAFT Universal Credit (Managed Migration) Regulations 2018, the full details of which can be found here: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2018/9780111174265/contents The Government’s proposals, explained in the associated “Explanatory Note”, are quite varied & detailed, so, for the purposes of this note, I’ll focus mainly on…

Good morning DWP has just published a guidance note explaining, how and when it will be willing to share & exchange information with, “tenant representatives”, amongst others. The guidance is welcome, as the question of “explicit consent”, introduced February 2017, has been causing landlords (social & private) and tenant representatives…

Good morning When tenants make a claim for Universal Credit, it’s a condition of entitlement, they must agree a “Claimant Commitment” (CC). Some claimants, including those with severe disabilites, child care and/or caring responsibilites or earning above a prescribed threshhold, can be excused from making a commitment. More details on…