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Removal of housing costs for some 18-21 year olds

7 March 2017

The Government’s removal of Universal Credit housing costs from some 18-21 year olds has garnered a lot of media attention. Policy Officer Stephen Orme looks at what these changes mean.

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Benefits, Welfare Reform, Affordability

Bedroom tax in Northern Ireland

7 March 2017

Regulations allowing for the introduction of the “social sector size criteria” or the “bedroom tax” in Northern Ireland took effect on the 20 February.  As we’ve previously reported, the impact of this change in Northern Ireland is largely mitigated, with the only threat of an actual financial detriment as a result of the change being to some social tenants who trans

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Benefits, Social Tenancies, Private Tenancies, Practical tips, Welfare Reform, Affordability

What is “Bedroom Tax” and how will the mitigations work?

20 January 2017

On Monday 16th January, the mitigations for the Social Sector Size Criteria (“bedroom tax”) were approved by the Assembly. Here we look in detail at what the “bedroom tax” policy is, and how the mitigations will work in practice.

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Benefits, Social Tenancies, Welfare Reform, Affordability

Housing Benefit to be reduced for temporary absence from Northern Ireland

18 January 2017

From 30th January 2017, the amount of time for which a claimant will be able to receive Housing Benefit whilst temporarily absent from Northern Ireland will be reduced, in most cases, to a maximum of 4 weeks. The change applies to both working age claimants and state pension credit age claimants.

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Benefits, Minority Groups, Social Tenancies, Private Tenancies, Affordability

Risk of "Bedroom Tax" not being mitigated in Northern Ireland

10 January 2017

Housing Rights is seriously concerned that the potential dissolution of the Assembly could have the unintended consequence of the Executive failing to mitigate the introduction of the Social Sector Size Criteria (the so-called “bedroom tax”) in Northern Ireland.

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Benefits, Welfare Reform, Affordability

Universal Credit roll out dates confirmed

8 December 2016

Universal Credit will be introduced to Northern Ireland on a phased basis, beginning on 27 September 2017 according to a statement released by Minister for Communities Paul Givan.

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Benefits, Welfare Reform, NI Assembly

Supreme Court delivers verdict on bedroom tax

10 November 2016

The Supreme Court has delivered its judgment on the discriminatory impact of the bedroom tax.  The Court considered seven cases and decided that there was an "inexplicable inconsistency" in the policy's differing treatment of adults and children with disabilities.

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Benefits, Legislation, Welfare Reform, Case law

ADVISER: Community Housing Advice Partnership backdating success

27 October 2016

Our Community Housing Advice Partnership provides expert housing support to advisers working throughout Northern Ireland.  A recent case highlights how working in partnership with a housing specialist can help member agencies achieve the best outcome for clients.

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Benefits, Social Tenancies, Practical tips, Adviser

Finance Support replaces Social Fund

20 October 2016

From 28 November, the existing Social Fund in Northern Ireland will be replaced by a service called Finance Support. This means that Crisis Loans and Community Care Grants, currently available from the Social Fund, will cease to be available from 27 November.

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Benefits, Welfare Reform

Growing affordability concerns in the private rented sector

12 September 2016

Recent research reports by the Chartered Institute of Housing and the Fabian Society have pointed to growing affordability concerns in the private rented sector, caused by changes and cuts to Housing Benefit.

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Benefits, Money Matters, Private Tenancies

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