Returning Members
Please Click Here11 March, 2013
Housing Benefit - An affinity with RSL cash-flow and revenue streams - will it still operate beyond 2017?The media is focused with laser precision on Universal Credit no doubt anticipating Ministerial resignations due to the chaos and scandalous loss of public money. Based on the recent Guardian revelations it’s looking ever more likely, the planned national rollout will be delayed until after the May 2015 election. By that date,…
10 March, 2013
Universal Credit - Set to create budgeting difficulties for 3 million recipients!According to research by the Payments Council, benefits recipients throughout the UK believe they will not fully understand their payment options once the Universal Credit scheme is rolled out by the Department for Work and Pensions.
The survey, which questioned 1,568 UK adult recipients…
10 March, 2013
JSA - Mandatory Job-search attendance - 35 hours per week!The Government has announced yet another trial project, this time focused on the long term unemployed and those that need specialist help when seeking work.
In return for receiving their benefit, some Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants will be required to undertake supervised jobsearch activity.
Under the trials, due to commence in…
10 March, 2013
Lord Freud - Speaking at IRRV Conference - 2nd October 2013Lord Freud was speaking yesterday at the IRRV’s annual benefits & revenues conference, which is always well attended by council delegates from all parts of the UK. His full speech can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/welfare-reforms-progress-update
He really says nothing we haven’t already heard. Basically, he applauds councils for the…
10 March, 2013
Bedroom Tax - Human Rights defeat for the Government!07 March, 2013
Universal Credit roll-out to WiganHard on the heels of Thursday’s announcement on Direct Payments, Lord Freud has intimated, just this morning, that the 2nd Pathfinder is to start today in Wigan.
The format is identical to what happened in Ashton-under-Lyne, where to control numbers, only certain single claimants could claim. So those claimants who…
07 March, 2013
RLA WELCOMES DIRECT PAYMENTS PARITY WITH SOCIAL SECTORThe Residential Landlords’ Association have just published an article in which it has welcomed a Government commitment to work with landlords, to make a new system of direct rent payments successful when Universal Credit is rolled-out.
For the full article, go to http://news.rla.org.uk/rla-welcomes-direct-payments-parity-with-social-sector/
21 February, 2013
Bedroom Tax "Loophole" - QC's OpinionAs a follow-up to yesterday’s bulletin I can now provide a copy of Jonathan Mitchell’s actual opinion, responding as he does to some pertinent questions posed by Govan Law Centre on behalf of its Advice Agency client.
The opinion – http://www.govanlc.com/GAAopinion.pdf
Whilst I found the opinion…
21 February, 2013
Bedroom Tax - Surely, that can't be right?We all expect, the “Bedroom Tax” to throw up many anomalies and horror stories after All Fools’ Day but here’s one I came across earlier today that seems to be taxing even the best Welfare Rights workers. What chance do mere mortals have if the experts are struggling with the…
20 February, 2013
Universal Credit Implementation programmeOne of the most frequent questions I get asked by my RSL clients and the delegates who attend our seminars is – when will Universal Credit directly affect our tenants?
The truth is none of us know for certain at this stage. The DWP report “Local Support Services Framework”…