Information Library

Good morning DWP has just published a guidance note explaining, how and when it will be willing to share & exchange information with, “tenant representatives”, amongst others. The guidance is welcome, as the question of “explicit consent”, introduced February 2017, has been causing landlords (social & private) and tenant representatives…

Good morning When tenants make a claim for Universal Credit, it’s a condition of entitlement, they must agree a “Claimant Commitment” (CC). Some claimants, including those with severe disabilites, child care and/or caring responsibilites or earning above a prescribed threshhold, can be excused from making a commitment. More details on…

Good morning Over the past few weeks, I’ve had a number of referrals from Housing Association clients, concerned about tenants, who have recently been invited to claim Universal Credit, in Full Service areas, due to a change in their circumstances, only to have their applications refused. Why? DWP “closed” their…

Good morning In recent weeks, I’ve been asked to support two of my Housing Association clients, in Universal Credit related disputes, where DWP was either refusing to make payment of the “housing costs element” (HCE) or only paying a proportion of the contractual figure. Working together, we were able to…

Good morning In my one of my last bulletins – “Challenging & Appealing poor decisions” http://universalcreditadvice.com/housing-associations/2018/04/universal-credit—challenging-appealing-poor-decisions I referred to the fact, I had discovered, through the casework queries, I receive from clients, DWP was wrongly applying deductions to Universal Credit awards through, what DWP refers to as “Housing Costs Contributions”, which under…

Good morning Some of you may already be aware , but from the 11th of April 2018 two significant changes took place, in relation to Housing Benefit (LHA) and Universal Credit. Both beneficial, for a change! Two week run-on! Firstly, there’s now a Housing Benefit “bonus” of an additional 2…

DWP has produced a chapter in its Advice to Decision Makers Guidance which relates to the question of UC Overpayments & Recoverability. You can find the guidance here. It is designed to provide an overview to staff, regarding overpayment & recovery policy. Its contents is also intended for external advisors,…

Good morning As predicted, transitioning to “Full Service” delivery is throwing up, every day, more and more, examples of poor decision-making and inadequate IT system functionality, potentially causing tenants to lose out, on an increasing range of fronts, especially in relation to the “housing costs element” (HCE). As DWP increases…

Good morning Any tenant or landlord wishing to appeal against a decision made by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about social security benefits, including Universal Credit should use the standard form here Further guidance to help you fill in this form is available in booklet SSCS1A ‘How to…

Hi If you disagree with a decision made by the Department for Work and Pensions, you can either ask for more information, a revision or Mandatory Reconsideration (MR). DWP has produced a standard application form, which you can find here The advice that accompanies the form suggests: “You can ask for…