OCS training is designed to help delegates understand key legal aspects of the Housing Benefit system. We will always include plenty of exercises and real live case examples within the day. Learning should always be fun!

LHA - the Outstanding Issues

LHA has been operating across the country for several months. Practitioners anticipated that several issues would cause difficulty and so it has proved. Opinion is divided about the correct way to decide these issues.
This course examines the competing arguments in an impartial way. We analyse the relevant legislation and case law and we consider the legal views advanced on all sides of the debate, including opinions given by leading social security barrister Paul Stagg, answers from DWP officials to local authorities' enquiries and analysis by HBINFO's own team of HB specialists.
The particular issues that we look at will include:

Claimants on LRR/CRR who would be better off with LHA Under what circumstances could a decision to award HB based on LHA be revised to revert to LRR/CRR? Can the claimant simply opt into LHA by giving up his/her existing award? Is it necessary for there to be a break between the old and new awards? If so, how long must it last and why? If it is possible to opt into LHA in this way, is it also possible to engineer a higher rate of LHA when monthly rates change before the anniversary date is reached? If not, why not? Unresolved eligible rent/ size criteria issues including: Joint tenants: single room or one bedroom rate? Foster children: occupiers or not? Is it possible to re-apportion joint tenants' cap rent shares before the anniversary date? How do Councils deal with cases where it is possible to arrive at different bedroom allocations depending on how children are paired up? LHA leading the market: abuse of the scheme or legitimate income maximisation? Payment of HB Can a tenant nominate the landlord as his or her favoured payee under Reg 94? Joint bank account held with landlord
Fee: £175 for non-HBINFO members, £160 for HBINFO members. Book three places, get a fourth place free (free places may be carried forward and used on any subsequent HBINFO training event within three months of the date of the original course. The fee covers refreshments, lunch and all training materials.
About the main presenter:
Peter Barker is one of the most knowledgeable practitioners in the Housing Benefit field. He has a real love of the subject and an ability to communicate the most complex of issues.

Booking forms are available on the training index page.