Information Library

Good morning,   Our website www.ucadvice.co.uk and related services are utilised by just under 1000 registered RSL users, with the numbers steadily increasing as the rollout of Universal Credit expands throughout GB.   Each month we issue a number of UC updates, through our bulletins. Some of the more recent ones…

Good morning, Both Leigh Day & Public Law solicitors have reported that the Supreme Court has granted permission, to their 5 adult clients, all adversely affected by “Bedroom Tax” penalties, to take their appeals to the highest court of appeal. Permission was granted, following last year’s Court of Appeal decision,…

Good afternoon, As I’m sure you’ve already heard, George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his Autumn Statement to Parliament announced: “Capping Housing Benefit in the social rented sector – The government will apply the relevant Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates as maxima for Housing Benefit paid in the social…

Good afternoon, You’ll find in the following link http://universalcreditadvice.com/housing-associations/training/universal-credit-the-key-risks-to-direct-payments-rent-collection-arrears-control-debt-recovery-explained details of a course, located in the Abode Hotel, Glasgow on Wednesday 13th January 2016. The course has been specifically tailored for Social Landlord staff and will explore the many hidden complexities and relative dangers of Universal Credit which will impact on your tenants; your…

Good morning, I wrote to you recently advising of our training course in Manchester http://universalcreditadvice.com/housing-associations/training/universal-credit-the-key-risks-to-direct-payments-rent-collection-arrears-control-debt-recovery-explained We have since added a further date in Edinburgh, will shortly announce one in central London, and responded to a number of in-house requests for the same programme. Both advertised courses have already attracted sufficent interest…

Good afternoon, One of my latest bulletins explained the new E-mail process for making E-secure applications for “Alternative Payment Arrangements” (APAs) http://universalcreditadvice.com/housing-associations/2015/07/universal-credit—new-e-mail-apa-application-process-introduced-from-today Whilst the news was welcomed by RSLs a number have since written to explain that most of the problems being encountered are due to DWP maladministration issues (lengthy delays…

Good morning, My most recent bulletin commented on the Chancellor’s budget, and, in particular, the Treasury’s early release, covering the headline changes. The full Budget Report, which provides the detail, is now available, and can be found here. One of the most significant points to note is at 1.140. It confirms…

Good morning, Over the next few years, you can expect to see a significant hike in the number of applications for DHP as benefit claimants and their advisors turn to the scheme in the hope of offsetting some of the significant losses, experienced through the various welfare reforms, including: a)…

Good afternoon, I was asked, by one of our new website members, earlier this week, to prepare an introductory pack of UC information for tenants’ use. Having done so, it struck me that a similar pack of the most up-to-date information, may also be of interest to your own staff,…

Good morning, Representing landlords in relation to HB Overpayment disputes with councils is a routine event for me, especially these days, with DWP incentivising local authorities to identify and pursue recovery of the £1.8 billion overpaid in HB each year. Most of the amounts range from £500 to £3000; large…