1. Universal Credit in Dorset – Lets Talk 2
LA Perspective
Tina Frampton

2. Housing Benefit gateway
The Housing Benefit gateway closed for most working age customers when UC Full Service went live
This means that we CAN NOT accept a new HB claim from a working age customer unless they:
Are Pension Age – can not claim UC
Have 3 or more children – can not claim UC currently
Live in Specified Accommodation – can not claim Housing Costs under UC
Live in Temporary Accommodation - can not claim Housing Costs under UC
We triage all new claims received daily to ensure they are eligible to claim HB

3. Changes and announcements in 2018
We can award an additional two weeks HB to customers who transition for HB to UC. The additional two weeks payment is paid at a rate equal to their maximum eligible rent and not their calculated entitlement.
Local Authorities (LA) have a statutory duty to secure accommodation for unintentionally homeless people. Where LA has accepted a duty and provided temporary accommodation HB can be claimed to cover the rental liability.
Letter from Neil Couling on 7 June 2018 announcing those with Severe Disability Premium will remain on legacy benefits even if their circumstances change. Once migration starts they will receive transitional protection if they are worse off on UC – Regulations still not laid – expected now January 2019.
From April 2018 funding for UC support locally will cease for LA’s and be transferred to CAB. No detail surrounding this as yet.

4. Specified or Exempt Accommodation
HB can still be claimed to cover housing costs for Specified/Exempt accommodation
LA determines if the accommodation meets the criteria to claim HB
Landlord must be:
Registered Housing Provider
Registered Charity
Non-Profit Organisation
Non-metropolitan County Council

5. Specified or Exempt accommodation continued
Care, support and supervision (CSS) must be provided and REQUIRED
It must be more than minimal (case law indicates more than 3 hours per week)
Exempt Accommodation- CSS must be provided by or on behalf of the Landlord
Specified Accommodation- CSS can be provided by care provider arranged through Adult Social Care but tenant must have been placed in the property in order to receive the CSS

6. Intensive Housing Management
CSS is not defined in legislation but there is much case law available that provides guidance
Intensive Housing Management can be deemed to be CSS
This mainly consists of the Landlords providing housing related services over and above those provided in general needs accommodation eg:
Support around claiming HB
Adaptations required after letting
Dealing with appointees/support workers
Extra time dealing with tenancy related matters

7. HB for UC customers
For Pension age and customers with 3 or more children HB claims are straight forward because they will not be in receipt of UC at all.
Customers living in Specified/Exempt or Temporary Accommodation could still be getting UC for their living costs but must claim HB for housing costs
HB will be paid at maximum eligible rent (less any non-dependant deductions) for customers receiving UC

8. Discretionary Housing Payments
The LA is still responsible for administering the DHP budget helping those struggling to meet housing costs
For customers in receipt of UC this must include the Housing Costs element in order for DHP to be considered
The application process is still the same and a form must be completed and submitted to the LA
Since UC Full Service went live we have awarded DHP amounting to £87, to customers on UC
62 payments were lump sum amounts to clear rent arrears and prevent eviction – the highest of these was £

9. Impacts on LA Benefits Team
We receive electronic files daily from the DWP which advise us of UC awards for customers in our area. These files will advise us of new awards to UC as well of any changes to awards of UC.
Officers have to check all files received daily and where required they revise the LCTS in line with the UC award details provided. This will result in an amended Council Tax bill being produced as the amount payable will change as the LCTS changes. 
Since UC Full Service rollout the volume of files received is increasing month on month. The below table shows how many files have been received in the last 11 months:
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
WDDC
474
666
688
771
951
911
1284
915
901
1034
WPBC
592
772
849
1143
1300
1074
1103
1133
1118
1228
PDC 75
161
274
354
405
424
437
465
451
544

10. Impacts continued…
We are currently paying LCTS to 1518 customers in receipt of UC across our 3 Local Authority areas
We are currently paying HB to 95 customers in receipt of UC (these will be those in Supported Accommodation or Temporary Accommodation)
Housing Benefit Caseload
WDDC
WPBC
PDC
Jan 2018
5461
5256
2398
Nov 2018
4792
4443
2107
Reduction
669
813
291

11. Local Government re-organisation in Dorset
The current two tier system of local government in Dorset is changing from 1 April 2019 and the nine existing councils will be replaced by the following two unitary councils:
• Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, which will provide services covering that area
• Dorset Council, which will provide services covering the rest of the County.
Currently SVPP provide Revs and Bens services for EDDC and NDDC, this arrangement will continue initially but with closer working arrangements.
New council means new boundaries so for customers moving around the area we will be considering changes in circumstances rather than new claims!

12. Local Council Tax Support Consultation
It has already been agreed that we need to change our Local Council Tax Support Scheme
There is commitment to implement an aligned scheme for the new Dorset Council
We are also looking to reduce the number of changes we apply from monthly revised UC awards. This is making the administration of the scheme extremely complicated and is very challenging for customers.
The consultation on proposed new scheme is live now and will run until 10 December – there are 3 options proposed.
Have your say at

13. Latest news and budget announcements
Just two weeks after managed migration was extended by a further year, a new 6 month “contingency period” has been added to bring the new proposed end date to June 2024
Revised timetable on movement of Pensioner HB to Pension Credit – earliest date now 2023.
From July 2020 customers moving from Income Related JSA and ESA or Income Support will receive an additional 2 weeks money as well
From April 2019 work allowance increased for those with children or disabled – earn more before UC award is withdrawn
From July 19 Extension of 12 month grace period for self employed – Minimum Income Floor will come in later to allow time to grow business – how long will this extension be?
From October 2019 reduction to the maximum rate of deductions for debt recovery from 40% to 30%
From October 2021 repayment of advance UC payments will be extended from 12 months to 16 months