HOUSING

Housing benefit and rent arrears

GDRA0111      7 February 2012        Glasgow
GDRA0112      7 February 2013        Glasgow

Often rent arrears arise because housing benefit is wrongly refused or underpaid. This course gives practical advice aimed at housing workers, in-court advisers and others who want to maximise housing benefit and minimise rent arrears. It looks at those areas where entitlement is often missed or wrongly calculated. It enables participants to spot potential problems and signpost on for further advice.

It includes:

• Difficulties claiming and providing evidence
• Backdating benefit
• Non-dependants
• Arrears caused by delays in moving in, and two homes
• Overpayment recovery
• The discretionary housing payment scheme
• Welfare reform benefit cuts

No previous knowledge of housing benefit is assumed. For more experienced advisers dealing directly with benefit claims and challenging decisions, some of the same areas are covered in more detail on the Housing benefit problem areas course.

Level Introductory
Tutor David Kelly
Time 10am - 4pm
SNS 2.3 and 4.29
CPD 5 hours

Help with mortgage and other payments

GDHC0112      4 September 2012        Glasgow

Some benefits can include payments for mortgages, loans for repairs and improvements and other housing costs such as service charges. This course looks at the housing costs rules in detail with an emphasis on maximising payments. It also considers when shortfalls can happen and ideas for minimising these.

The course includes:

• When housing costs can be met
• Types of housing costs that are covered
• How payments are calculated
• Restrictions on payment
• Waiting periods for payment
• Linking rules for breaks in claim and waiting periods

A working knowledge of means-tested benefits is assumed.

Level Standard
Tutor Henri Krishna
Time 10am - 4pm
SNS 4.1
CPD 5 hours

Housing benefit overpayments

GDHO0111       26 January 2012    Glasgow
GDHO0112       24 January 2013    Glasgow

This one-day course is an introduction to housing benefit overpayments and their recovery. The rules on when an overpayment can be recovered and from whom are very different from other benefits and the scope for challenge narrower.

This course covers:

• Causes of overpayments
• Decision-making issues
• Rules that may prevent recovery
• Official error and causation
• From whom overpayments can be recovered
• Methods of recovery
• Offsetting overpayments by underlying entitlement

Level Standard
Tutor David Kelly
Time 10am - 4pm
SNS 3.5
CPD 5 hours

Housing benefit problem areas

GDHB0112       11 September 2012       Glasgow

This course looks at housing benefit problems that tenants commonly face, suggesting practical solutions to problems that may be familiar to many advisers.

The course includes:

• The claims process, information and evidence
• Issues related to absence, moving home and having two homes
• Non-dependant deduction issues
• Overpayments
• Problems with the administration of housing benefit
• Welfare reform benefit cuts

It is aimed at people with a working knowledge of housing benefit. Those with little or no experience but who come across these issues in their jobs such as housing staff and support workers should book on Housing benefit and rent arrears

Level Standard
Tutor David Kelly
Time 10am - 4pm
SNS 4.2
CPD 5 hours

CPAG Publication

CPAG's Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Legislation

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