Good morning,

Rollout update

After a series of lengthy operational delays and related criticism from the likes of the Work & Pensions Committee, CIH, National Housing Federation, it appears that Universal Credit’s expansion could quite significantly increase from May 2016 due to very positive feedback on the “digital system” currently…

Good morning,

DWP recently notified Housing Associations, in those areas already affected by the national rollout, of a process designed to partially automate, the April 2015 uprating of tenants’ rents. It must be stressed, this ONLY applies to April 2015 and does not affect those tenants who continue…

Good morning, DWP has now confirmed the first 4 tranches of the national rollout. Tranche 1 – February to April 2015 Tranche 2 – May to July 2015 Tranche 3 – August to November 2015 Tranche 4 – December 2015 to April 2016 The latest list (3 & 4) provides…

Good morning,

The DWP has just issued an invitation to all Social Landlords to apply to become one of 20 pilot “Trusted Partners” sites. If you’re interested and assuming you meet the DWPs entry criteria, applications must be submitted no later than 12:00 noon on Friday, 13th November 2015.

To…

Good afternoon, My previous bulletin seems to have caused a bit of a stir. Just to be clear, I explained how the roll-out appears to be gaining momentum, UK wide, plus mentioned DWP has decided to extend its “digital trial” to other parts of London. So, by April 2016, every…

Good afternoon,

The House of Commons Library has just published an interesting report on the use of DHP awards, UK wide, which you can find here. It highlights the variable approaches of LAs and how many applicants are being refused, probably unfairly. I would recommend…

Hi,

Yet another DWP announcement, today, about further expansions in the roll out, this time relating to what the DWP calls the “Universal Credit Gateway” i.e. the eligibility criteria, which, until now, has severely restricted claims to only the simplest of cases. In the main, these only involved, single, newly…

Good Morning, Hot on the heals of its pre-Christmas announcement, DWP has just published its 2nd list of Jobcentre and Council areas, that will represent the next tranche of the national rollout, starting May, and completing in July 2015. The expansion plan, has been ongoing, since June 2014, when it moved…

Hi,

In the current climate of welfare reforms, where wholesale changes are being made to tenants benefits, which invariably impede and frstrate RSL staff in their attempts to assist, it’s important to be au fait with how to minimise…

Good afternoon,

DWP has just issued an URGENT circular to all UK councils, highlighting two recent housing benefit appeal cases, concerning the “Bedroom Tax”, which were initially successful at First-tier level, but have since been overturned by a 3 Judge Tribunal…