Good morning, and a happy and prosperous New Year to you.

I’m delighted to start the New Year with a piece of good news for those of you who make use of the Alternative Payment Scheme (APA) to secure redirection of the tenant’s “housing costs”. DWP has just confirmed its…

Good afternoon

DWP issued guidance https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-universal-support-201819-guidance/universal-support-201819-guidance yesterday explaining how claimants can access support making and maintaining their Universal Credit entitlement.

You won’t be surprised to hear most, if not all, of the available support will be provided by:

a) Housing Associations

b) Local Authorities

c) CAB

d) Credit Unions

Good afternoon

If you’re a PRS landlord, invested in properties occupied by tenants, reliant on Universal Credit, I’m sure you’re aware of the difficulties currently being experienced by landlords, GB wide, when attempting to secure redirection of the “Housing Element” of Universal Credit, due to tenant rent arrears or their inability…

Good afternoon

One of the best reports, I’ve read, so far, concerning the impact of UC Full Service on Income & Rent Arrears Management is one produced two days ago by East Lothian Council. It was covered by local press in an article titled – “Shocking impact of Universal Credit…

Good morning

My recent bulletin http://universalcreditadvice.com/housing-associations/2018/02/universal-credit—2-week-payment-run-on-of-hblha-and-related-changes alerted you to, amongst other things, the introduction of a Housing Benefit “bonus”, in the form of an additional 2-week run-on of HB/LHA, for tenants transitioning to Universal Credit Full Service. The payment is designed to help the tenant mitigate the wait until…

Good afternoon

A number of our clients have been receiving letters & invoices from DWP Debt Management, demanding repayment of Universal Credit overpayments, sometimes involving large sums.

In one case, the letter stated:

“You were overpaid Universal Credit for the period 2nd November 2017 to 8th January 2018. You now…

Good morning

As well as providing website services www.ucadvice.co.uk ; regular updating bulletins on Universal Credit & Housing Benefit; training for staff and Board/Committee Members, in relation to Universal Credit and wider welfare reforms; we are regularly engaged by our landlord clients to assist them and their tenants, in disputes with…

Good afternoon

The Government has recently published – “The Universal Credit (Miscellaneous Amendments, Savings and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2018 – SI 65/2018”. The Statutory Instrument amends various pieces of Universal Credit legislation and interactions with other state benefits, including Housing Benefit. The main purpose of the legislation is to implement…

Good afternoon

You may recall, the bulletin I issued, following the Chancellor’s November autumn statement http://universalcreditadvice.com/housing-associations/2017/11/universal-credit-budget-measures-explained Amongst other things, I explained how DWP planned to stop taking any new claims for Universal Credit in “live”, as opposed to “Full Service” or digital areas, from 1st January 2018.

DWP has just recently…

To the Director General, Universal Credit Implementation

Posted on Property Tribes https://www.propertytribes.com/dear-mr-couling-dwps-director-general-t-127629460.html 

Dear Mr Couling 

Landlords, throughout Great Britain, are experiencing unsustainable rental loss as a direct result of Universal Credit, particularly, in relation to the way in which the “housing element” is being administered. Despite phoning, e-mailing and complaining…