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Hi, In recent weeks there has been much debate on welfare rights discussion forums about a potential “Bedroom Tax” loophole affecting tenancies created before 1st January 1996. Apparently, the case for challenge was first identified by a first-tier tribunal judge and has since been applied in other cases. DWP has…

Hi,

In a bulletin to “stakeholder members” prompted by the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, the DWP have confirmed that the introduction of “Housing Credit” originally planned for October 2014 has been put “on hold” and will not be introduced until at least 2017/18. The announcement is not at all surprising as Ministers like…

If you examine Twitter and the various Welfare Reform websites you’ll find there has been quite a bit of recent success achieved on the Tribunal front, by Social Landlord tenants. Much of the focus has been on Scotland in this regard and the decisions made by Judge Simon Collins QC. Although…

Inside Housing ran an article yesterday which caused a number of my clients to contact me seeking some clarification. The article was headed “Universal credit docked to recover rent arrears”.
You’ll find the article at:

http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/tenancies/universal-credit-docked-to-recover-rent-arrears/6527269.article?utm_medium=email&utm_source=Ocean+Media+&utm_campaign=2615002_IH+Daily+news+10%2f6%2f13&dm_i=1HH2,1K1QY,7UMT62,5C35H,1

I’m sure you’re only too aware; the right to make “third party”…

Monday 29th April was a red letter day in Ashton-Under-Lyne’s, Job Center Plus iffice, as it was from there that the DWP decided to launch its first Universal Credit Pathfinder project, and kick-off a massive exercise designed to revolutionise the social security system in the UK.  Amongst other things to…

Recently it seems, never a day goes by without Government Ministers and the DWP taking a pasting (PAC & NAO reports) over the level of management incompetence; the degree of uncertainty that exists with regards to the timing of its proposed national roll-out; and the apparent huge waste of public…

The DWP in one of its latest “UC toolkit” bulletins confirms there will indeed be “Landlord Managed Payments” including the ability to apply to have Universal Credit “housing costs” redirected from day one, or failing this, after 2 months’ rent arrears have been triggered. However, the bulletin doesn’t really…

The champagne corks were flying yesterday in Whitehall as Ian Duncan Smith announced that the Benefit Cap has been successfully delivered in the 4 London Boroughs of Enfield, Haringey, Bromley and Croydon. In total, just over 2,400 households were capped by having their Housing Benefit reduced. I’ve extrapolated the key…

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr Iain Duncan Smith MP) issued a Ministerial Statement yesterday, in advance of giving evidence to the Work & Pensions Committee, on the current state of play with Universal Credit, explaining how the new scheme would be rolled out nationally from…

Removal of the spare room subsidy – First tier Tribunal decisions The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has written, just yesterday, by way of an HB circular, to councils throughout the UK, seeking to be kept updated on any appeals against the “spare room subsidy”, better known as “Bedroom…