Universal Credit
What we will cover:
- How Universal Credit differs from Housing Benefit
- How to make and maintain an online claim – defective claims, verification, changes in circumstances, back-dating
- How the “Housing Costs element” (HCE) is calculated
- Accessing direct payment of the Housing Costs & challenging refusals
- Challenging DWP decisions – seeking a revision, “late revision” Mandatory Reconsideration and Appeal
- UC Overpayments – how to challenge DWP poor practice – standard letters etc.
- Making a complaint to DWP and Independent Case Examiner – case examples, standard letters used to illustrate
Objectives
- Properly advise your tenants on how and when to claim Universal Credit
- Accessing Direct Payments, nowadays called APAs (Alternative Payment Arrangements)
- Implement effective processes to ensure any gap in payment is actioned immediately, minimising rent arrears and the need for legal action
- Successful communication with frontline DWP and hierarchy
Background
DWP expects to have transferred between 8-9 million claimants by December 2024. Currently around 6 million are claiming and receiving their housing costs as part of their UC award. Starting in 2023 another 2.6 million “working age” claimants will transfer, during a process called “Managed Migration”. Of those currently receiving Housing Benefit, they will stop receiving help from councils and having to apply to DWP for assistance.
During the Managed Migration stage, it’s anticipated 40% will be worse off under Universal Credit. However, there’s a “Transitional Protection” (TP) scheme that should safeguard tenants from such losses. Many commentators believe, DWP will be so overwhelmed by the increased volume and pace of claims that TP may often be missed or underpaid. If that happens, it will pose an increased risk to landlords’ cash flows. We would advise all members with tenants who are reliant, partially, or wholly on claiming state benefits, to come along to this course to find out how you can prepare yourself to effectively navigate the new system and prevent rental loss.
This training course qualifies for 3 continuous professional development (CPD) points which can help towards or maintain your accreditation with the NRLA. If you are interested in becoming an accredited landlord with the NRLA, CPD points are necessary to achieve that status.
NRLA Accreditation recognises landlords who have agreed to maintain professional standards in the management and maintenance of their rented property and deal fairly and professionally with their tenants. Accredited members demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of their responsibilities and obligations and strive to maintain, increase, and improve their knowledge of the market through training and development. CPD points are awarded for all activities which improve those attributes and are a requisite of membership of the NRLA Accreditation Scheme.
For more details visit the accreditation section on the website.
Suitable for
- Any landlord or agent who accommodates tenants, reliant to some extent on claiming assistance from LHA/Universal Credit schemes, to help reduce or extinguish their rent liabilities
- Landlords and agents who have not previously accepted tenants in receipt of benefit payments but discover through redundancy, sickness or accident that one of their tenants has become a claimant
- New landlords and agents considering accepting tenants in receipt of benefit payments.
Course Tutor
Course will be delivered by Bill Irvine, UC Advice & Advocacy Ltd, on behalf NRLA. Bill runs his own company www.ucadvice.co.uk and has been collaborating with the RLA/NRLA for 10 years. He’s an ex-Government Advisor to the Housing Benefit, Standing Committee, Westminster and since 2013 has specialised in providing landlords, both social & private, and their tenants, advice, support & representation in terms of related disputes i.e., Direct Payments, Backdating, Overpayments and represents before First & upper-tier tribunals when necessary.