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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 tell…

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 October, 2013 In…

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…

Can’t stay, Can’t go! is the title of a really well crafted and interesting report by Grand Union Housing Group, which is focused on the impact of the Bedroom Tax on its various subsidaries, following 6 months of operation, in the different geographic areas of it property interests. Unlike some…

Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg has revealed the Coalition has instructed “independent” research into the impact of the bedroom tax (single room subsidy). It is believed the research has been initiated due to rising concern among senior Liberal Democrat figures about the policy’s implementation and the deep seated resentment this…

Carl Brown, Deputy News Editor at Inside Housing posted a tweet the other day which caught my attention. He headlined a linked article – “More whinging from social landlords about UC – this time from associations in pathfinder areas! http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/regulation/landlords-slam-welfare-pilots/6529073.article. I’m surprised at how little reaction there has been to the…

Read the following article http://www.guardian.co.uk/housing-network/2013/jan/07/private-landlords-give-universal-credit-a-chance…

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