Conference June 2023

Conference:

This Conference looked at 'Help with Rent'.

We had a mix of inspirational speakers and a choice of three informative workshops.

The day was chaired by Peter Barker aka HBanorak.

This is what delegates have said about the day:

"I found the day extremely useful, well paced, clear and informative."

"A very good Conference as always."

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

Please login with your special Conference login - you will then be able to access the presentations below - to download and print off if required. Most of the workshops were pre-recorded so you are able to watch back those you attended or watch the ones you missed.

Speakers Presentations

Plan of the day:

9.30am: Welcome

9.35am: Speaker: What's new in 2023

9.50am: Workshop 1:

Choose from:

1A: Moving Home: Maximising Entitlement and Avoiding Pitfalls

In this workshop we will enable delegates to ensure claimants don’t lose out when moving home.

It will highlight:

who can still get help for the rent on two homes when moving,
when moving home doesn't trigger a UC claim,
how the UC Transition to HB payment (HB run-on) works and who may be missing out,
how timing a UC claim can increase UC entitlement and
areas where tenants are being given incorrect advice by HB and DWP - and how to challenge this.

1B: Spotlight on: Help with rent in Supported Accommodation

UC has introduced an extra layer of complexity for those living in Supported Housing.

This workshop will examine:

how help with rent works for those living in supported housing: when it is HB, when UC,
the lesser known rules that apply to UC claimants living in 'specified accommodation':
- the higher UC work allowance,
- special rules for DHPs, and
rules around moving in - ensuring HB paid from the start of tenancy
rules around moving on - getting HB for the notice period.

11.05am: Break

11.30am: Workshop 2

Choose from:

2A: UC Housing Element Amount – Problem Areas

Many UC claimants do not have the correct amount of Housing Costs Element included in their UC award and struggle to pay their rent as a result.

This workshop gives delegates the information they need to check a claimant is receiving the correct amount of HCE and if not, how to quickly get it resolved.

Topics include: Bedroom Tax, Housing Costs Contributions, Joint Tenancies and Untidy Tenancies.

And we will also investigate how a claimant can request any missing back payments.

2B: Service Charges - eligibility for UC and HB

This workshop will help you ensure that those who can get help with their services charges are receiving it.

Topics covered will include:

How the rules work under HB and UC.
Problem areas: Intensive Housing Management.
Can Shared owners / Home owners get help?
Variable charges.

12.45pm: Lunch

1.45pm: Speaker: UC Who's who & Escalation routes

Jackie Dwyer, Partnership Manager, Department for Works and Pensions will outline the various roles at the DWP linked to a UC claim.

2.00pm: Workshop 3

Choose from:.

3A: UC Housing Element Eligibility – Problem Areas

This workshop highlights the areas where DWP sometimes give poor advice and make wrong decisions about who is entitled to a Housing Costs Element.

It examines:

Who can be treated as liable for rent and receive help even though they’re not on the tenancy.
What should happen to a UC award when the claimant goes to prison or is otherwise away from home.
When someone left living in a property can apply for UC and get help with a use and occupation charge.
Can a UC claimant get help with two homes when fleeing violence?

3B: Tools to help

When collecting rent there are many tools that can help.

This workshop investigates some of the lesser known rules around:

Third Party Deductions for rent arrears,
UC APA Managed Payments,
Discretionary Housing Payments,
Deductions from UC.

It also highlights other pots of money that could help.

3.15pm: Break

3.30pm: Speaker: Voluntary Migration

Ian Cory, Welfare Reform Manager, Aster Group who will outline how they help people make the move onto UC.

4.00pm: Q&A Panel

4.30pm: Close