This course is a comprehensive look in detail at:

• The latest on Universal Credit (UC) including the impact of the local authority pilots to date, basic calculations, housing costs, service charges, ensuring payments of HB and UC are not duplicated. overpayment recovery and other areas that affect HB Services
• UC and CTR/CTS; Local Authorities are finding that the costs of the Council Tax Support scheme are increasing because of the model CTS scheme. What to do about this and possible changes to local CTS schemes from April 2015

(https://hbinfo.org/forums/topics/uc-and-assessment-ctrs is a good example of this issue)

• CTR/CTS caselaw, precedents and lessons learnt
• Earnings – the impact of real-time earnings on Housing Benefit, case law and legislation changes
• Under occupancy / bedroom tax and the early Upper Tribunal decisions
• EEA nationals – dealing with all of the key 2015/6 changes
• DHP’s and local discretion; changing powers and guidance
• Other changes in the Welfare State that affect Housing Benefit and CTS

“This workshop will look at welfare reform as it impacts on local authorities. Through exercises and group discussion, delegates will explore the policy and procedural options for L.A.’s in these difficult areas (the programme is subject to change to ensure the very latest changes are included on the day)”