UNIVERSAL CREDIT - OVERVIEW

1
UNIVERSAL CREDIT - OVERVIEW

• Jon Hyde Department for Work and Pensions
• Introduction aims of session
• Universal Credit
• Context for reform

2
SIZE CRITERIA IN THE SOCIAL RENTED SECTOR

• Joe Stacey Department for Work and Pensions
• The Size Criteria measure what is it?
• Working-age and living in the social rented
  sector.
• Uses Local Housing Allowance criteria
• Two reduction rates probably in the range
• 10-15 for one bedroom under occupation and
• 20-25 for 2 bedroom plus under occupation. 
• Expected to come into force from April 2013.

3
MAKING BETTER USE OF STOCK - DCLG

• Frances Walker Department for Communities
  Local Government
• Social housing reform
• We are making it easier for landlords to help
  under-occupiers to downsize, freeing up family
  sized housing for other families in need, by
• changes to legislation in the Localism Bill which
  take existing tenants not in need out of the
  allocation rules
• introduction of a National Home Swap Scheme
• HomeSwap Direct tenants who want to move will
  be able to register once and see full range of
  potential swaps
• We are making available 13m to help councils
  support under-occupying tenants who want to move,
  and fund an action team to work with landlords.

4
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

• Were you already aware of the change to HB and,
  if so, how did you find out about it?
• What do you think are likely to be the positive
  and negative outcomes from this change?
• What options will be available to tenants who are
  affected by the change?
• What can councils and landlords do to help
  tenants prepare for the change?
• Does your landlord have a scheme to help
  under-occupiers to downsize? Is this restricted
  to tenants over pension age?