Hard on the heels of Thursday’s announcement on Direct Payments, Lord Freud has intimated, just this morning, that the 2nd Pathfinder is to start today in Wigan. The format is identical to what happened in Ashton-under-Lyne, where to control numbers, only certain single claimants could claim. So those claimants who have…

The Residential Landlords’ Association have just published an article in which it has welcomed a Government commitment to work with landlords, to make a new system of direct rent payments successful when Universal Credit is rolled-out. For the full article, go to http://news.rla.org.uk/rla-welcomes-direct-payments-parity-with-social-sector/…

Access…

As a follow-up to yesterday’s bulletin I can now provide a copy of Jonathan Mitchell’s actual opinion, responding as he does to some pertinent questions posed by Govan Law Centre on behalf of its Advice Agency client. The opinion – http://www.govanlc.com/GAAopinion.pdf Whilst I found the opinion interesting and informative it…

We all expect, the “Bedroom Tax” to throw up many anomalies and horror stories after All Fools’ Day but here’s one I came across earlier today that seems to be taxing even the best Welfare Rights workers. What chance do mere mortals have if the experts are struggling with the…

One of the most frequent questions I get asked by my RSL clients and the delegates who attend our seminars is – when will Universal Credit directly affect our tenants? The truth is none of us know for certain at this stage. The DWP report “Local Support Services Framework” http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/uc-local-service-support-framework.pdf…

A recent article, “100,000 Scots could cash in on bedroom tax loophole” published by the Glasgow Herald http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/100000-scots-to-cash-in-on-bedroom-tax-loophole.20243112 has created a bit of stir in RSL, Council and DWP circles here in Scotland and has produced some interesting follow-up articles and website discussions in other parts of the UK. The…

The DWP has been busy over the weekend and has produced yet another report, focused this time, on how claimants in need of specialist Money Advice will be identified and provided with a range of support http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/personal-budgeting-support-guidance.pdf. Not surprisingly, the report alludes to the fact there already exists a network…

This latest offering from the DWP: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/uc-local-service-support-framework.pdf has been produced in collaboration with local authorities. The document sets out the principles of how critically important support for Universal Credit claimants might be delivered. Interestingly, it also hints there might be some sort of financial support for “partnership” organisations, including RSLs and…

The Government has responded to concerns raised by the Work and Pensions Committee about some aspects of its welfare reform proposals, including an obvious lack of clarity in some key areas and a very worrying lack of protection for landlords, especially in relation to “vulnerable” and delinquent tenants. Read its detailed response. http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm85/8537/8537.pdf…

The Residentail Landlords Association has just published an article which should interest your finance and rent accounting staff. It focuses on the issue of HB Overpayments, and, the oftentimes, overzealous attempts by Council Housing Benefit sections to recover large sums of money, sometimes many thousands of £’s, directly from landlords. In the…