Housing and Council Tax Benefit Landlord Forum 8 th February 2012.

Housing and Council Tax BenefitHousing and Council Tax Benefit

Landlord Forum 8Landlord Forum 8thth February 2012 February 2012

Benefit Service Update Benefit Service Update

Shared Service with Cannock Shared Service with Cannock Chase CouncilChase Council

Commitment to improving the Commitment to improving the service already providedservice already provided

Performance targets to be Performance targets to be publishedpublished

Shared Services Shared Services ObjectivesObjectives Maintain or improve Maintain or improve

PerformancePerformance Increase ResilienceIncrease Resilience Increase responsiveness to Increase responsiveness to

changechange Make better use of technologyMake better use of technology Save money (£400k p.a)Save money (£400k p.a)

Benefit PerformanceBenefit Performance

Performance already reduced Performance already reduced from an average of 19 days to 13 from an average of 19 days to 13 days on new claims days on new claims

…………and from 12 days to 5 days and from 12 days to 5 days on processing changes in on processing changes in circumstancescircumstances

Benefit processesBenefit processes

New Claims made via an New Claims made via an appointment systemappointment system

Changes in circumstances dealt Changes in circumstances dealt with at first point of contact with at first point of contact

Appeals dealt with inside of 28 Appeals dealt with inside of 28 daysdays

Shared Service Shared Service PrinciplesPrinciples Location of the benefit service not yet Location of the benefit service not yet

finally decided but ….finally decided but ….

Commitment to providing Customer Commitment to providing Customer Services at both Cannock and Stafford Services at both Cannock and Stafford

Commitment to “putting the needs of Commitment to “putting the needs of the customer first” in all decisionsthe customer first” in all decisions

ANY QUESTIONS?ANY QUESTIONS?

Welfare Reform Act 2011Welfare Reform Act 2011

Removal of the “excess” paid to Removal of the “excess” paid to some tenantssome tenants

LHA calculated based upon 30LHA calculated based upon 30thth percentile instead of the mid range percentile instead of the mid range

Caps maximum LHA at 4 bed Caps maximum LHA at 4 bed property rateproperty rate

From 1From 1stst January a further change is January a further change is being introducedbeing introduced

Single tenants under the age of 35 will Single tenants under the age of 35 will only be entitled to the shared room only be entitled to the shared room rate.rate.

This provision previously only affected This provision previously only affected single customers aged under 25single customers aged under 25

Currently single tenants aged Currently single tenants aged between 25 and 34 are entitled to the between 25 and 34 are entitled to the one room rateone room rate

The reduction in benefit is effective 9 The reduction in benefit is effective 9 months after the anniversary date of months after the anniversary date of the tenants claim where the claim the tenants claim where the claim was made prior to April 11. If the was made prior to April 11. If the claim is made after April 11, the new claim is made after April 11, the new rates start on the anniversary date of rates start on the anniversary date of the claim.the claim.

Exemptions !!!Exemptions !!!

Any tenant who is an ex offender will Any tenant who is an ex offender will not be subject to the shared room rate not be subject to the shared room rate and….and….

Any tenant who has or who is at risk of Any tenant who has or who is at risk of sleeping rough will not be subject to the sleeping rough will not be subject to the shared room rateshared room rate

Don’t rely on the tenant to tell usDon’t rely on the tenant to tell us

If you have a single tenant aged If you have a single tenant aged under 35 and think that the under 35 and think that the exemptions may apply – call the exemptions may apply – call the benefit helpline number benefit helpline number

01785-61947801785-619478

Other ChangesOther Changes

From April 12- Local Housing Allowance From April 12- Local Housing Allowance rates will be frozen and not uprated each rates will be frozen and not uprated each month.month.

From April 13- the Government plans to From April 13- the Government plans to introduce the “benefits cap” introduce the “benefits cap”

From April 13- Universal Credit is planned From April 13- Universal Credit is planned to start for “some” new Housing Benefit to start for “some” new Housing Benefit claimsclaims

From April 13- Local Housing Allowance rates From April 13- Local Housing Allowance rates will be uprated by the Consumer Price Index.will be uprated by the Consumer Price Index.

From April 13-The Government plans to From April 13-The Government plans to introduce “under occupancy of social housing introduce “under occupancy of social housing legislation”legislation”

From April 13- the Government also plans to From April 13- the Government also plans to introduce “localisation of Council Tax Benefit” introduce “localisation of Council Tax Benefit”

ANY QUESTIONS?ANY QUESTIONS?