"Good course worth the money." Matt Taylor, Monmouthshire Housing Assoc. Ltd
"Excellent course! Practical!" Kuldip Gill, Huggard
"Trainer is very good and experienced." Ade Adeniran, Islington Carers Centre
A detailed overview focusing on the most problematic areas for professionals. Housing Benefit is disappearing for many claimants but not all.
Housing Benefit will continue to be paid to those in temporary and supported accommodation and to pensioners, even after UC migration has been completed.
Universal Credit is assessed monthly but Housing Benefit is assessed weekly. This can lead to problems with claims.
This course works well in conjunction with our other courses eg UC and Housing Costs.
It will give you an awareness of the following issues-
• the place of Housing Benefit in the structure of the Benefits system
• the impact of receiving other benefits on Housing Benefit- namely Universal Credit or Pension Credit
• how working and changes to these benefits affects entitlement to Housing Benefit
• how other changes in circumstances may affect entitlement to Housing Benefit. eg UC claim closing, client splitting up with partner, being absent from the dwelling, being recognised as having limited capability for work , getting or losing Personal Independence Payments or Attendance Allowance, moving to a property where UC housing costs are payable, sanctions, moving from UC housing costs to HB, and from HB to UC housing costs
• housing benefit basics
• qualifying conditions
• how and when to claim
• how to calculate benefit including premiums, and for pensioners the impact of local housing allowances/. the Benefit Cap and eligible rent
• maximisation of benefit, including backdating/ overpayments, changes to entitlement for those who go abroad
• challenging decisions
• discretionary hardship payments