Good morning, One of the most common questions I’m asked, as I travel GB, presenting UC seminars, is: “From what date should our tenants’ eligibility to Universal Credit begin?” In answer to the question, I would draw your attention to many of DWP publications, which, in my opinion, give the…

Good afternoon As I’m sure you’re aware, we are fast approaching the 31st March 2017 deadline set by the DWP to report any April, 2017 rent increases, applicable to tenants of yours, living in areas designated “LIVE” for Universal Credit purposes. Ordinarily the obligation to report any change in circumstances,…

Good morning When DWP first introduced Alternative Payment Arrangements (APAs) it said their purpose was to help tenants with budgeting issues sustain tenancies and protect landlords from any unnecessary rental loss. So, you would think, when a Landlord informed them via their UC 47 pro-forma, one of its tenants has…

Good afternoon As you may already know, the Scottish Government, in the past week, published the Universal Credit (Claims & Payment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 – SI No. 227. You’ll find the legislation here: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2017/227/introduction/made The regulations are designed to bring to life, the Scottish Government’s longstanding commitment to: Introduce choice…

Good morning One of our Housing Association clients alerted me to a problem relating to the payment of Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs). Specifically, their local authority had stopped paying DHPs where its tenants had their “housing element” redirected to their landlord. After some investigation, I discovered the problem could be…

Good morning   The Scottish Government has just started an 8 week consultation period on the draft Universal Credit (Claims & Payments) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 which make provision for: Fortnightly payments of Universal Credit; and Claimant choice to have payments redirected to their landlord. It’s vitally important all Scottish landlords…

Good morning Around £1 Billion of Housing Benefit Overpayments are identified as recoverable every year and, at any time, around £2 Billion remains outstanding despite the recovery efforts of councils. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/509751/hb-recoveries-and-fraud-data-to-sept-2015.pdf DWP provides guidance and subsidy incentives to councils, encouraging recovery from those considered culpable. Currently, local councils receive a subsidy…

Good afternoon, The Scottish Government only last week confirmed its intention to provide tenants with the option of having payments, made fortnightly, and, if preferred, redirected to their landlords. We’ve known for sometime that’s what SG intended, so its not news. However, SG has, as yet, to provide dates for…

Good afternoon DWP has just confirmed its Universal Credit Freephone service has been available since 29th November 2017. You’ll, no doubt, recall the move was prompted by demands from claimants, their advisors, MPs etc. that the service should be made a free service as tenants were experiencing very high costs,…

Good afternoon, DWP has just published a helpful list of the benefit scale rates, due to be implemented from April, 2017. The full list of rates is found here>>> Amongst the detail you’ll find: a) State Pension, Widows Pension, Incapacity, Employment Support rates, including any related dependent additions; and b)…