Benefits

Supreme court criticises benefit cap

19 March 2015

Supreme Court judges have criticised the benefit cap. The Supreme Court found that the policy failed to comply with Article 3 (1) of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This article provides that “in all actions concerning children … the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration”.

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Benefits, Welfare Reform, Legal

Welfare reform update

25 February 2015

The Welfare Reform Bill has been the subject of much discussion at the Assembly of late. During the Bill's consideration and further consideration stages a number of amendments were tabled. The majority of these amendments did not pass as they did not have cross community support. The amended bill includes a duty on the Department for Social Devlopment to "ensure availability of advice and assistance" although an amendment to ensure that this advice was independent was negatived.

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Benefits, Welfare Reform, NI Assembly

Adviser: Retaining worker status – what is involuntary unemployment?

25 February 2015

Our adviser recently helped a client who had left her previous employment due to constructive dismissal and whose claim for housing benefit was rejected as the decision maker felt that she was not “involuntarily unemployed”.

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Benefits, Money Matters, Practical tips, Adviser

The future of rate rebate in Northern Ireland

17 February 2015

Housing Rights Service has just submitted a joint response with Law Centre NI on the long term options for rate rebate for working age claimants in Northern Ireland.

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Benefits, Welfare Reform, Policy, Affordability

Housing Rights & Law Centre NI joint response to consultation on rate rebate scheme

Consultation Response

February 2015

Housing Rights and the Law Centre welcome the opportunity to respond to this consultation . We have found that issues about rates, and help with rates, are becoming more of a priority for our clients; especially in debt cases. Non-payment of rates can lead to serious consequences such as bankruptcy, threat of homelessness and imprisonment. We also encounter many cases where the liability for rates between the landlord and tenant is unclear. In general, we support the Department proposal to introduce a new rate rebate scheme in line with UC. However, we do have a number of concerns with regards to backdating, appealing decisions and provision for hardship cases.

HRS LCNI response to rate rebate replacement_160215.pdf

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Benefits, Policy

Welfare Reform back on Assembly’s agenda

6 February 2015

The Welfare Reform Bill will be subject to scrutiny in the Assembly next week. The Social Development Committee will meet on Monday morning for a departmental briefing on the bill from Ms Anne McCleary and Mr Michael Pollock from the Department for Social Development.

Mervyn Storey, Minister for Social Development, will reintroduce the Bill to the Assembly for consideration stage on the 10 February.

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Benefits, Welfare Reform, NI Assembly

Exemptions to shared accommodation rate of LHA

4 February 2015

With Welfare Reform back on the Assembly’s agenda, we look at one of the biggest housing welfare changes; the extension of the Shared Accommodation Rate (SAR) of Local Housing Allowance (LHA) to applicants aged under 35. Ursula Toner explains which young tenants should be entitled to the one bedroom rate of LHA because they are exempt from the SAR.

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Benefits, Private Tenancies, Welfare Reform, Affordability

LHA rates may increase by up to 4% in certain areas of NI

20 January 2015

A new statutory instrument takes effect on 20 January that will allow for the uprating of Local Housing Allowance by up to 4% in certain parts of Northern Ireland. This is to prevent certain areas becoming unaffordable to tenants in receipt of housing benefit.