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UC Migration for ESA and HB Recipients& "Fair Repayment Rate" practice!

Good afternoon

The final, most complicated, and challenging stage of Universal Credit “Migration” and the ending of legacy benefits is already in process and expected to be completed by March 2026.

Migration Notices have already been sent and will continue being issued until December 2025. By that time, everyone (estimated 800,000) currently claiming Employment Support Allowance (ESA) either on its own or combined with Housing Benefit (HB) should have completed or, at least, started the migration process.

This final cohort is viewed for several reasons as the most complicated and challenging; DWP originally planned to delay their transition until 2028. Many of those affected claimants don’t want to move; they may need to be persuaded and supported to overcome their fear of losing financially in the process and having to budget on a monthly cycle, with no payment for 5 weeks after their date of claim. We already know some have failed to comply and have lost out in the process, despite being prompted by DWP and offered help to transition.

This course is designed to address some of these tenants’ concerns and prepare for the move.

Amongst other things, we will explain how to:

  • Prepare tenants for migration in advance of receiving the notice.
  • Explain the claim, validation & “Claimant Commitment” processes & exceptions.
  • What’s the best time to claim after receiving the notice, and what are the 1st & final deadline dates?
  • Understand how the UC award is made online, is assessed and paid
  • What are Stop Notices, legacy benefit run-ons, Advanced Payments, and methods of repayment?
  • Examples of how the UC award is calculated, including the related disability elements.
  • How Transitional Protection payments are calculated, how long they exist, and how they can be forfeited through changes in circumstances
  • Benefit Assessment period, payment dates, reporting changes
  • How to avoid or challenge attempts to sanction
  • Complaints and Appeals

We also plan to cover the “Fair Repayment Rate” rules, which apply from 7th April 2025 and will undoubtedly frustrate rent arrear collections going forward and necessitate dialogue with tenants to avoid the need for repossession action.

  • What is the Fair Repayment Rate, and how will it impact Third-party deductions?
  • When will this take effect and who is most likely to be affected?

 

UC Migration for ESA and HB Recipients& "Fair Repayment Rate" practice!

This course is designed to address some of these tenants’ concerns and prepare for the move.

Amongst other things, we will explain how to:

  • Prepare tenants for migration in advance of receiving the notice.
  • Explain the claim, validation & “Claimant Commitment” processes & exceptions.
  • What’s the best time to claim after receiving the notice, and what are the 1st & final deadline dates?
  • Understand how the UC award is made online, is assessed and paid
  • What are Stop Notices, legacy benefit run-ons, Advanced Payments, and methods of repayment?
  • Examples of how the UC award is calculated, including the related disability elements.
  • How Transitional Protection payments are calculated, how long they exist, and how they can be forfeited through changes in circumstances
  • Benefit Assessment period, payment dates, reporting changes
  • How to avoid or challenge attempts to sanction
  • Complaints and Appeals

We also plan to cover the “Fair Repayment Rate” rules, which apply from 7th April 2025 and will undoubtedly frustrate rent arrear collections going forward and necessitate dialogue with tenants to avoid the need for repossession action.

  • What is the Fair Repayment Rate, and how will it impact Third-party deductions?
  • When will this take effect and who is most likely to be affected?

Who should attend?

Council or Housing Association staff charged with helping tenants understand their obligations in terms of their tenancy; assisting tenants overcome the many obstacles inherent in Universal Credit that cause or contribute towards rent collection and the management of arrears. The Course should be especially of interest to Housing Officers & assistants; financial inclusion, welfare rights and debt managment.

Bill Irvine

Bill spent 30 years in local government, holding senior positions in Social Work, Housing & Finance. He left as Head of Housing Services (Benefits, Revenues & Advice) at one of the UK’s largest councils. In 2010 he set up a new consultancy business “Housing Benefit Advice & Advocacy” offering advice, training, and advocacy to Councils, RSL’s and private landlords throughout the UK.

Since January 2012 he has been at the forefront of Universal Credit training for both SRS and Private Sector landlords, on behalf of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), individual Housing Associations, Charitable & Volunatary bodies, GB wide.

He now owns and operates www.universalcreditadvice.com. publishes regular updating bulletins on Universal Credit to more than 1300 registered subscribers and represents both tenant and landlords at Fist and Upper-tier tribunals where problems can’t be resolved through negotiation.