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…

Supporting Frontline staff As we draw nearer to the introduction of Universal Credit you will find there will be a glut of new guidance issued by the DWP to explain how the roll-out of UC will affect the way your frontline staff interact with tenants; deal with the demands of making digital claims,…

I was explaining to you on Thursday just how farsical the “Pathfinder” exercise was becoming and used the analogy of the Willy Wonka “Golden Ticket”. The following day the Government announced: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21972026 “However, the department now says this pilot programme will start only in one area in April – Ashton-under-Lyne.…

The DWP today released its latest version of the Discretionary Housing Payments Guidance Manual which comes into effect from 1st April 2013. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/discretionary-housing-payments-guide.pdf This latest version also includes a “Good Practice” guide with various examples of how the funds can be used. Staff assisting tenants who are considering ways to…

Local Housing Allowance rates. An important update on Personal Independence Payments. Discretionary housing payments. Benefit cap update. Statutory instruments. What’s new on the web. G12/2012 (pdf: 48kb)…

Access to some of the content of this page is limited to members of…

Abolition of Council Tax Benefit and its impact on the 2013/14 claim form and guidance notes. U5/2012 (pdf:24kb)…

Access to some of the content of this page is limited to members of the site. If you are already a member, please…

Pension Credit Plus, Universal Credit Stakeholder Presentation, Benefit Cap Update, Statutory Instruments and What’s on the web. G11/2012 (pdf: 39kb)…

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Queries about the: technical content of this bulletin, contact details are given at the end of each article and distribution of this bulletin. Annex A – Temporary Accommodation Question and Answer. G10/2012 (pdf: 72kb)…

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