Any member of staff who deals with rent collection. Basic knowledge of the Housing Benefit system will be assumed.

AIMS:

Housing Benefit is a major source of income to housing providers. However, due to the complexity of the system, and errors made by Housing Benefit Offices, tenants often find themselves in rent arrears. This course examines the areas where HB can go unpaid and provides new solutions to old problems.

OBJECTIVES:

• Gain an understanding of the main areas where Housing Benefit Offices make errors that lead to unnecessary hardship and arrears
• Gain a detailed knowledge of the Bedroom Tax and Benefit Cap and in particular when these deductions should not be applied, or protection should be given.
• Increased confidence in dealing with HB overpayments to reduce the impact on rent accounts.
• Gain a detailed knowledge of non-dependant deductions and when to help the tenant challenge these - in particular temporary stays and when the maximum deduction is applied.
• Investigated gaps in HB entitlement - why this can happen and how to help tenants get paid the HB they were entitled to during this period.
• Gain an understanding of what should happen to a HB award when a tenant moves onto UC - including when the Transition to UC Payment should be awarded and to whom.

LEVEL:

Intermediate

HOW IS THE COURSE DELIVERED?

This course can be delivered online, or face to face. It is a practical course delivered using a combination of trainer presentation, exercises and cases studies, group discussion, and quizzes.

HOW MUCH?

We advise that this course be delivered over a minimum of 6 hours either as:

• Online - two 3 hour on-line Workshops, or
• Face-to-face - one full days training.

Click here for more information on pricing.

AFTER THE COURSE:

Learners will receive a copy of the PowerPoint slides, a certificate, and any additional resources such as relevant flowcharts and summary sheets. They will also be asked to complete an evaluation form.

IF BOOKING TO BE DELIVERED ONLINE:

We will be in touch to discuss and finalise the arrangements. Learners will need a good wifi connection and a suitable computer/laptop to access both the training session and a second internet-enabled device such as a tablet or smartphone for joining in any quizzes. In the week of the course, learners will receive an email with a link to the course, as well as a reminder just before the course is due to start.

IF BOOKING FACE TO FACE:

We will be in touch to discuss and finalise the arrangements. We will require a delegate list a week before delivery. It is assumed that you will source and provide a suitable venue taking account of any Covid restrictions in place at the time of delivery.