Information Library

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…

Good morning,

In my bulletin http://universalcreditadvice.com/housing-associations/2015/08/universal-credit-apas—what-to-do-when-dwp-get-it-wrong I encourage you to challenge any Alternative Payment Arrangement (APA) request, which is:

a) Refused unreasonably or without adequate reasons being given; or

b) Payment of the “housing element” is NOT suspended, pending a decision, and continues to be paid to your tenant;…

Good morning,

DWP has from Monday of this week (4th June 2015) introduced a new escalation telephony service line (0345 266 0041) for registered social landlord and local authority (LAs) with urgent “housing cost” enquiries. The line will not be available to private sector landlords.

Perceived problem

Registered Social Landlords…

Good morning,

In an earlier bulletin I explained how the DWP had introduced a new scheme of “Third Party Payments” for Universal Credit. Since then DWP has produced a TPP handbook which you’ll find here. I’ve also been asked a series of related questions, by website members. Most have…

Good morning,

Almost a year ago, I highlighted the scandal (see my bulletin http://universalcreditadvice.com/ha/2014/11/rent-arrears-caused-by-dwp-maladministration ) of DWP causing, through maladministration, unnecessary cancellations of Housing Benefit, creating, in turn, significant amounts of rent arrears for both social and private landlords and misery and worry for those tenants affected by the error.

…

Good afternoon,

Rollout expansion

DWP, in the past few days, has announced the latest Jobcentre areas to “go-live” with Universal Credit. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/universal-credit-in-15-more-jobcentres-in-suffolk-berkshire-and-yorkshire

The areas include:

Bracknell | Chelmsford | Coalville | Cromer | Doncaster | Fakenham | Hatfield | Maidenhead | Mexborough | North Walsham | Slough | Stowmarket…

A really helpful pictorial representation of a UC claimant’s journey from realising he/she can claim to how she makes the claim and is interviewed in relation to his/her claimant commitment.

DWP has produced this diagram to help tenants prepare for receiving UC payments.