Good morning

I’m delighted to say, our rejuvenated  training events have been well supported, raising several interesting cases, which highlight, DWP staff and their support systems continue to be found deficient, causing unnecessary benefits loss and overpayments for already struggling tenants.

One such case, pursued after the event, by our…

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Last week, I received a call from one of my Letting Agent clients, seeking help with his young son’s claim for Universal Credit. The son had moved into a new apartment, and notified the change to Universal Credit, in early September, via his journal. Over the following 10…

Good morning

The Chancellor, in his autumn statement, made several important announcements, which will significantly impact on the UK’s benefits regime. The changes, effective from April 2023, include, for example:

*Increases to Universal Credit’s, standard allowance, child, carer, disability and limited capability elements, all by the rate of inflation, fixed…

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In an earlier bulletin, I highlighted the worrying practices of DWP’s recently created “Risk Review Team” (RRT). The team, reported to have 1400 staff, is currently sifting through awards made during COVID, when normal validation measures were suspended, and DWP’s flawed policy of “trust & protect” was…

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In one of my earlier bulletins, I explain how some single claimants, under 35, living in private sector accommodation, qualify for the 1-bed rate of Local Housing Allowance (LHA).

With effect from 1st October 2022 the list of exemptions from the Shared Accommodation Rate (SAR) has been…

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Recently a tribunal of Upper-tier Judges ruled in a case, where the claimant, a young man (AM), suffering from autism, appealed DWP’s decision refusing his “backdated” request for Universal Credit which he made weeks after submitting his claim.

It has to be said, the ability to…

Good afternoon

Our 16th May bulletin explained how DWP had resumed its programme of moving “legacy benefit” recipients onto Universal Credit. Starting, firstly in Harrow and Bolton areas, it planned to develop further afield, in expectation, the migration process, of the remaining 2.6 million claimants, would complete by December…

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Historically, non-dependant deductions, relating to Housing Benefit, were recognised as one of the most common reasons for rent arrears, and especially difficult to grapple with, where the non-dep was working more than 16 hours per week, attracting deductions that either substantially reduced or wiped out the HB award.…

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In an earlier bulletin (January 21), I answered one of the most common questions I’m asked – can DWP award UC before the date of the tenant’s actual claim?

The answer is – YES – but, only in limited and prescribed situations.

I explained, using an actual case, how Ms…

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In recent months, I’ve been contacted by a few PRS landlords. Each was encountering difficulties with DWP, in relation to existing Direct Payments, following either a change of bank or account details, with their current bank (e.g., move to limited company). As required, each notified DWP, anticipating its…