Good afternoon,

As I’m sure you’ve already heard, George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his Autumn Statement to Parliament announced:

“Capping Housing Benefit in the social rented sector – The government will apply the relevant Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates as maxima for Housing Benefit paid in the social…

Good afternoon, You’ll find in the following link http://universalcreditadvice.com/housing-associations/training/universal-credit-the-key-risks-to-direct-payments-rent-collection-arrears-control-debt-recovery-explained details of a course, located in the Abode Hotel, Glasgow on Wednesday 13th January 2016. The course has been specifically tailored for Social Landlord staff and will explore the many hidden complexities and relative dangers of Universal…

Good morning, I wrote to you recently advising of our training course in Manchester http://universalcreditadvice.com/housing-associations/training/universal-credit-the-key-risks-to-direct-payments-rent-collection-arrears-control-debt-recovery-explained We have since added a further date in Edinburgh, will shortly announce one in central London, and responded to a number of in-house requests for the same programme. Both advertised courses have already…

Good afternoon, One of my latest bulletins explained the new E-mail process for making E-secure applications for “Alternative Payment Arrangements” (APAs) http://universalcreditadvice.com/housing-associations/2015/07/universal-credit—new-e-mail-apa-application-process-introduced-from-today Whilst the news was welcomed by RSLs a number have since written to explain that most of the problems being encountered are due to DWP maladministration…

Good morning, 

My most recent bulletin commented on the Chancellor’s budget, and, in particular, the Treasury’s early release, covering the headline changes. The full Budget Report, which provides the detail, is now available, and can be found here.

One of the most significant points…

Good morning,

Over the next few years, you can expect to see a significant hike in the number of applications for DHP as benefit claimants and their advisors turn to the scheme in the hope of offsetting some of the significant losses, experienced through the various welfare reforms, including:

a)…

Good afternoon, I was asked, by one of our new website members, earlier this week, to prepare an introductory pack of UC information for tenants’ use. Having done so, it struck me that a similar pack of the most up-to-date information, may also be of interest to your own staff,…

Good morning,

Representing landlords in relation to HB Overpayment disputes with councils is a routine event for me, especially these days, with DWP incentivising local authorities to identify and pursue recovery of the £1.8 billion overpaid in HB each year. Most of the amounts range from £500 to £3000; large…

Good morning,

In my bulletin http://universalcreditadvice.com/housing-associations/2015/08/universal-credit-apas—what-to-do-when-dwp-get-it-wrong I encourage you to challenge any Alternative Payment Arrangement (APA) request, which is:

a) Refused unreasonably or without adequate reasons being given; or

b) Payment of the “housing element” is NOT suspended, pending a decision, and continues to be paid to your tenant;…

Good morning,

DWP has from Monday of this week (4th June 2015) introduced a new escalation telephony service line (0345 266 0041) for registered social landlord and local authority (LAs) with urgent “housing cost” enquiries. The line will not be available to private sector landlords.

Perceived problem

Registered Social Landlords…