This is a time of enormous change in benefits as the roll out of Universal Credit and welfare reform continues. The current timetable is to complete the move of the working age population to Universal Credit by the end of 2024. At that point the DWP say they will begin the move of older Housing Benefit claimants (those over pension age) to a housing costs element payable as part of Pension Credit. The current timetable for this would begin in April 2025. This will leave the question of the future of Housing Benefit for those living in supported housing and those living in temporary homeless accommodation. We are likely to hear about that and any replacement arrangements over the next few years.
The pandemic has created a slowdown in terms of benefit administration and a larger number of claimants for the DWP to manage. There will be a move to speed up reform over the next few years including changes to the way disability benefits and capacity for work assessments are managed and assessed. In the meantime there have been a number of court challenges to DWP policy.
Make sure staff keep up to date.
I do offer limited one to one training at a reasonable cost online
I can provide your organisation with in-house training on a wide range of issues on:
- Welfare Reform as it relates to general needs and supported housing providers
- Universal Credit: Housing Costs introductory/intermediate and advanced levels
- Housing Benefit – introductory, Intermediate and Advanced levels
- Personal Independence Payments
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Older People and Welfare Reform
- Young People and Universal Credit
These can be run at varying levels according to your needs.
Pricing will vary according to the content of course, contact me for a quote.