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 at Upper-tier level. The decision, made by the tribunal,…

Good morning, Hard on the heels of last week’s announcement, of UC’s expansion to 150 jobcentre areas, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has provided the NHF with more comprehensive details of what’s likely to happen after April 2015. My bulletin, earlier in the week, covered what was proposed…

Good morning, Due, I suspect, to the summer holiday period, there’s not been much happening, DWP wise, on the Universal Credit front. However, the National Housing Federation has just published a really informative & helpful report, based on the experiences of RSLs involved in the UC pilots and “live sites”…

Good morning, It’s not surprising, with all that’s happened this week on the Universal Credit news front, that tenants and landlords alike, are scratching their heads trying to make sense of all the conflicting and confusing messages that abound. Some landlords, especially in the NW of England, are also understandably…

Hi, This course has been designed specifically for Housing Association staff, including those who work closely with tenants to ensure rent collection is maximised and the need for associated recovery action is kept to a minimum. This is especially important in the current climate of welfare reforms where wholesale changes…

Good morning, Earlier this year, I highlighted a social security scandal, relating to JSA/ESA sanctions and their unintended knock-on effect on Housing Benefit. The problem has, if anything got worse, despite the fact both DWP and councils are well aware of its existence, not to mention the unnecessary rent arrears…

Good morning, The Court of Appeal has rejected a challenge to the Government’s ‘Benefit Cap’ legislation (R (SG) v. Secretary of State for Work and Pensions). You can read full transcript here Benefits Cap Appeal The Claimants supported by Child Poverty Action Group and Shelter, contended that the legislation contravened their…

Good afternoon, DWP has just published a compendium of the most recent reports, relating to the development and implementation of Universal Credit designed to assist Social Landlords prepare for the roll-out of the scheme, starting, on a national basis, from February 2015. Details can be foundhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-rented-housing Tucked in at the end of…

Good afternoon, I unearthed this briefing paper (Bedroom Tax: Exemptions & Tribunals) produced by Giles Peaker, Anthony Gold Solicitors which, very helpfully, summarises some of the key issues arising from: a)      The 1996 HB (Bedroom Tax) exemption provisions & the effect of the statutory instrument, effectively closing the “loophole”; b)      The…

Good morning, Just as most UC commentators were predicting, nothing significant would happen, prior to next year’s election, Iain Duncan Smith pulled a white rabbit from nowhere by announcing yesterday, that Universal Credit will be rolled out to all Jobcentres and local authorities across the country, starting February 2015. Although…