Welfare Reform Week – Your chance to feedback to DWP on Universal Credit
9 years ago | 9 comments
Live Universal Credit horror case study
4:07 PM, 28th September 2017, 9 years ago
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Today we have taken on the following case:
In March the landlord granted a Tenancy to a tenant who informed him she was on Universal Credit. Unsure of the new scheme and not swayed by the bad press the optimistic landlord decided to give it a go.
The landlord was informed by the tenant that he had completed his change in circumstances via his online journal and had an appointment at the Jobcentre to verify his Tenancy by providing his Tenancy Agreement. When he attended this appointment he informed the landlord.
The landlord was unconcerned whether he received direct payment and therefore never completed the UC47 which is the form that DWP requires landlords to complete if the tenant is in rent arrears of 8 weeks or more and to request direct payment if the tenant fits into a their group set out by DWP.
A few weeks had passed and the landlord had not received any payments from the tenant, but as he had heard of the delays in DWP processing Universal Credit payments he assumed that there was a delay in the claim being set up.
Two months on and the landlord has still had not received a payment so he contacted the tenant who then contacted DWP and was told that the landlord had received the payment. Baffled by this claim the landlord went on a mission and contacted his bank who confirmed no payment had been made to him.
The tenant booked an appointment at the Jobcentre to get to the bottom of the situation and to his horror he was informed that a huge error had been made and the payment had been paid to his previous landlord. His work coach had assured him that the matter would be dealt with and that the payment would be recovered from his previous landlord.
A month later the tenant received the Housing Cost payment and forwarded the payment to his landlord. However, the tenant has now incurred rent arrears and the DWP six months later have failed to recover the payment that was sent to the previous landlord.
The landlord has contacted us today and we have contacted DWP and await their response.
We will update you with the progress on this case.
If you have a case like this please feel free to contact us where a member of our experienced team will be happy to assist.
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Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 3246 - Articles: 81
1:37 PM, 22nd October 2017, About 8 years ago
Yes disgusting in’t it Jonathon, no one tells u anything.
You would think one of the most important things in that persons life, their shelter, home, that we provide & needs to be paid for, the authorities would think ‘Right, let’s keep Landlord informed & make sure rent gets paid’. Was this an oversight by the Govt? Are they not bothered about the homeless?
We are, contrary to what DWP & the Govt thinks, one of the most important person’s in that claimants life.
DWP mess about with the rent & direct payment & delays, we don’t get paid, mortgage may not get paid, we lose house, they lose home. Homeless, hostels, Councils have not got enough homes for ’em.
Keep us happy.
We ain’t asking for a lot, just NORMAL NORMAL rent.
But no, Mr & Mrs Tory Govt thinks that’s asking for too much. Well watch this space, I think come 2021 they gonna’ come begging.
I’ve had same as u, they paid a girl 2 months worth, she spent the lot on cannabis, told me lost it on bus, next time purse nicked. She now addicted to cannabis & wasn’t before. All ’cause of direct payment.
Govt won’t publish mine & Jonathans real life stories, will they. DWP will say all working as it should.
Oh that’s why apparently 84% of all Council UC tenants are in arrears then.
And Travelodges becoming full of benefit & UC tenants ’cause Landlords ain’t taking ’em any more.
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 582
1:23 PM, 24th October 2017, About 8 years ago
Emergency Debate on UC
House of Commons starts today at approx 1.30 pm
Member Since October 2015 - Comments: 148 - Articles: 1
12:33 PM, 31st October 2017, About 8 years ago
Excellent article on UC in the Spectator.
https://www.spectator.co.uk/2017/10/dont-blame-iain-duncan-smith-for-the-universal-credit-tragedy-blame-george-osborne/
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 113
11:24 AM, 14th November 2017, About 8 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Sherrelle Collman at 29/09/2017 – 16:16
what is the dedicated number please ?
Member Since January 2017 - Comments: 146 - Articles: 97
4:45 PM, 14th November 2017, About 8 years ago
Reply to the comment left by tony tony at 14/11/2017 – 11:24
Dear Tony,
I submitted a written complaint and they called me.
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 113
6:22 PM, 14th November 2017, About 8 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Sherrelle Collman at 14/11/2017 – 16:45
yes but what is the number please ?
Member Since January 2017 - Comments: 146 - Articles: 97
6:27 PM, 14th November 2017, About 8 years ago
Reply to the comment left by tony tony at 14/11/2017 – 18:22
Dear Tony,
The number was withheld.
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 113
7:23 PM, 14th November 2017, About 8 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Sherrelle Collman at 14/11/2017 – 18:27
ok no worries it was just the way you put If so have you tried contact the dedicated number for Third Party Deductions? so i assumed you knew the number thanks anyway
Member Since January 2017 - Comments: 146 - Articles: 97
7:46 PM, 14th November 2017, About 8 years ago
Dear Tony,
Is this the first time that you have requested TPD? If not I presume that you would have been given a creditor reference number, this is the number that is allocated by DWP when making TPD payments to you as the landlord.
I think there is a dedicated number for those all already have been given a creditor reference number.
I will look when I get into the office tomorrow morning.
Is that ok?
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 113
8:55 PM, 14th November 2017, About 8 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Sherrelle Collman at 14/11/2017 – 19:46
thank you very much