Good afternoon One of my Housing Co-operative clients contacted me earlier today, seeking advice on whether DWP could impose a “Third Party”deduction, for rent arrears, at £63.56 (20%) of their tenant’s UC Standard Allowance, even though no request had been made by my client? The tenant had run up more…

Good morning I came across a Freedom of Information (FOI) request and response from DWP. The Q & A’s cover some of the most common questions I’m asked by website members, during our daily exchanges & training sessions and should be of interest to staff making Alternative Payment Arrangement (APA) requests and…

Good afternoon In earlier bulletins, I’ve explained how to raise queries and make complaints to DWP, concerning Universal Credit administration processes, where problems of delays, mistakes or non-payment of Managed Payment to Landlords (MPTLs) or Third-Party Payments (TPPs – 4 weekly payments to reduce rent arrears) occur. Despite the withdrawal…

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 e)…

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 the…

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 councils,…