Local Housing Allowance and the April changes – 1 day
About this course:
There are significant changes being made to the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) scheme from 1st April 2011, which Local Authorities will need to understand in order to ensure that customers are being awarded the correct levels of benefit. This course acts as a refresher of the basic LHA rules and also explains the various changes being made to the scheme from 1st April 2011. The course is supported by group discussion and practical exercises at the end of each module.
Learning outcome:
At the end of this course delegates will have a good understanding of the LHA scheme and in particular the April 2011 changes. This course takes delegates through the introduction of LHA, standard local allowance, size criteria, broad rental market areas, etc. The course includes the various changes being made to LHA from 1/4/11 and will also highlight future proposed changes over the coming years.
Suitable for:
- Benefit Assessors
- Customer service and call centre staff
- Housing officers
- Visiting officers
- Welfare rights officers
Content:
Local Housing Allowance basic rules:
- What are the aims of the LHA?
- Who can get LHA?
- Maximum Rent
- The Size Criteria
- Broad Rental Market Areas
- Applying the LHA
- Payment of LHA
- People who are likely to have difficulty paying their rent
- People who are unlikely to pay their rent
The changes from 1st April 2011:
- Removal of the £15 excess
- New 4 bedroom maximum LHA rate
- New maximum weekly LHA rates for all categories of dwellings
- LHA rates set at the 30th percentile
- Additional bedroom for non-resident carers
- Transitional protection – Who will get it? How long for?
- New discretion to pay landlords direct
For more information about our training services please call us on 0800 072 9844 or email us.