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Supported Accommodation - DWP extend protection to provider organisations!

Hi, Supported Accommodation Managers must have given a huge sigh of relief following the recent publication of the Housing Benefit and Universal Credit (Supported Accommodation) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 – http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2014/771/made A number of homeless and disability charities (Homeless Link, Sitra, Women’s Aid) joined forces with the National Housing Federation and…

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Housing Officer Commitment & Tenacity wins the day!

Hi A couple of weeks ago I forwarded bulletin http://www.ucadvice.co.uk/housing-associations/2014/01/housing-benefit-lha-suspension-cancellation-and-associated-rent-arrears highlighting the fact, tenants are accruing rent arrears unnecessarily, due to complications in Housing Benefit (LHA) and Bedroom Tax administration between councils and DWP. The note obviously struck a chord with one of my retainer clients who used the information…

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Bedroom Tax & Benefits Cap - Tenants fail in their appeals!

Hi, Court of Appeal Judges, this morning (21st Feb), ruled the court could not intervene in the Government’s housing benefit changes – most commonly referred to as the “bedroom tax” They also rejected claims that the ”benefit cap” violates human rights laws and the common law because of its impact…

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Bedroom Tax - Upper-tier tribunal judgement CH/140/2013

Good morning, I’m sure you’re already aware of the recently reported Upper-tier Tribunal Decision CH/140/2013 concerning Bolton BC and its potential impact on Bedroom Tax challenges because the Judge determined a lounge could be treated as a bedroom for the purposes of the size criteria. Some newspaper headlines and website…

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Universal Credit - News of further rollout in North West England

Good morning, Hard on the heels of Tuesday’s surprise announcement, DWP has released news of yet further developments in the North West of England. It has announced, Universal Credit eligibility will extend to single people and couples, with the usual pre-conditions, ensuring only the simplest of cases can claim. The…

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Universal Credit - North West Roll-out developmentsDedicated

Good morning, One of my recent bulletins http://www.ucadvice.co.uk/housing-associations/2014/04/universal-credit– commented on the DWP announcement that its Universal Credit would be rolled out to 12 new council districts, starting from June 2014. Since then I’ve heard from a number of my RSL and Private Sector clients that they’ve received notification, from their respective councils, of notional…

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Universal Credit & Housing Benefit - Keeping pace with the ever-changing environment?

Hi Universal Credit delivery has now been extended to another 6 Pathfinder sites and this process will incrementally progress to other districts, throughout the UK. The “claimant commitment” and associated “benefit sanctions” are already being rolled out to 20,000 Job Centres, creating major problems for both tenants and landlords alike because of sanctions…

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