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Universal Credit - 2-week Housing Benefit bonus explained!

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…

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Universal Credit - Overpayment recovery from Landlord

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…

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Housing Benefit & Universal Credit - Temporary Absence

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,…

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Universal Credit - 2-week payment run-on of HB/LHA and related changes!

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…

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DWP issues new directions relating to Universal Credit

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 published…

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Flawed APA and Complaint Processes under spotlight!

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 to…

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Universal Credit budget measures explained!

Good morning Following the Chancellor’s autumn statement, his colleague, David Gauke, Secretary of State for Work & Pensions, made a statement which provides some degree of clarity to what the Government is planning to introduce, and the timetable associated with the new measures. Roll-out slow-down DWP has, only slightly, amended…

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High Importance - DWP publish latest versions of UC 47 forms (direct payments)

Good Morning DWP yesterday published its latest versions of its UC 47 forms, permitting application for a Managed Payment to Landlord (MPTL) commonly referred to as APAs. You can find the new versions here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-landlord-request-for-a-managed-payment-or-rent-arrears-deduction It’s vitally important you start using the correct version of the forms immediately. Failure to…

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High Importance - New online version of UC47 now available!

Good morning DWP has published the latest version of its application form (UC47) designed to assist landlords secure payment of the housing element, rather than it being paid to their tenant. The updated form can be found by clicking the link and should be used immediately. Failure to use the correct version…

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