ONLINE WORKSHOP
Thursday, 9th May, 2024.
Full-Day Workshop: (9:30 - 4:30)
Workshop Fee: £240 + VAT. 4th Place Free.
Also available for In-House Bookings for individual organisations, either On-Site or Online.
This Workshop is suitable for Local Authority Housing Benefit & Council Tax Reduction staff, as well as social landlords and those advising and assisting claimants. The Workshop focusses predominantly on Managed Migration to Universal Credit. Other topics include mixed age couples, who continue to generate debate among HB practitioners, and the resurgent 53-week rent year myth – we explain why this is not an issue for social landlords to be concerned about.
The managed migration of legacy benefit claimants to Universal Credit, initially restricted to people on Tax Credits only and other cases in a small number of “discovery” areas, includes claimants of HB and DWP legacy benefits from April 2024 – staff will need to be prepared. The ambitious timetable will see large numbers of cases undergoing managed migration during the 2024/25 year. We will look at the following subjects:
· The latest timetable for completing the managed migration process;
· What happens to an HB claimant who undergoes managed migration:
o Including those who do and those who don’t claim UC within the deadline;
o The effect of a revision or supersession of an HB award after the claimant has already started to receive UC with transitional protection included;
· What happens to people in supported or temporary accommodation when they migrate to UC?
· Transitional protection:
o How it works;
o Cases where there would be no UC entitlement without transitional protection;
o Tips for maximising entitlement.
· Additional protection for students who are eligible for legacy benefits but not UC;
· Tax Credit claimants with more than £16,000 capital;
· How transitional protection affects CTR in a conventionally-drafted scheme;
· Mixed age couples: which ones will and won’t be affected by managed migration.
Which leads us to the next topic - ‘mixed age couples’ in general. These are the people who stand to lose the most by ill-advisedly switching to UC when there is no need. It is absolutely vital that LA benefits staff and claimant advisors understand the mixed age couple rules, including:
· Transitional protection of pre-2019 MACs;
· Circumstances in which HB awards must terminate, including ‘test cases’ in the pipeline;
· Couples approaching the older partner’s pension age date, especially when either of them has, or could potentially obtain, an award of income-related ESA;
· Remedies for faulty advice: Is it ever possible to turn back the clock and reverse to legacy benefits?
· Special rules where the younger partner is not eligible to claim benefits (e.g. NRPF)
· What happens if the younger partner dies.
We also look at the correct calculation of HB for mixed age couples who remain entitled – a source of frequent error, especially the applicable amount in a case where the claimant is not getting SPC, UC or ESA(ir). We also consider how mixed age couples should be treated for Council Tax Reduction purposes: Does the working age scheme or the pensioner scheme apply?
Finally, a round-up of some topical Welfare Reform issues, including a persistent myth which seems to have raised its head again. 2024/25 is a 53-week year in the social rented rector, and we explain why this does not mean that UC claimants are losing a week's rent this year.
Presented by Peter Barker, this Workshop will clarify all the issues involved in a detailed and fact-filled day.
Topics Covered:
Managed Migration
· The timetable:
o Who and when
· Transitional protection
o How it works
o The LA’s role in gathering the required information
· Rules for closing down legacy benefit awards
o Cases where UC is claimed within the deadline
o Cases where UC is not claimed
· Groups who will not be undergoing managed migration for the time being
· Temporary and supported housing
· Latest info for local authorities from DW P (subject to it being published in time)
Mixed Age Couples
· Termination of HB awards;
· Transitional protection:
o New claims for HB
o New claims for Pension Credit
· Preserving and maximising ESA entitlement;
· One partner ineligible for UC: Disaggregation
· Death of younger partner
· Complaints and remedies
· Council Tax Reduction
Miscellaneous
· Overview of legal framework governing roll-out of UC
· 53-week rent years – tackling the myth
We are always pleased to arrange most of our Workshops, such as this one, for staff from an individual organisation. Please email us with your requirements for details.
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