25% of Housing Benefit Payments Switched Back To Landlords

One in four tenants on the universal credit direct payment demonstration projects has had their benefit switched back to their social landlords due to rent arrears. The DWP has published the latest figures from its six projects to test the direct payment of benefit to tenants. The data, taken from the first 14 payments, reveals 1,647 of the 6,366 tenants to take part have had their payments switched back to the landlords. Just 107 tenants who had their benefit switched to the landlord have had their direct payment restored to them after repaying their rent. Each of the projects is testing different arrears ‘triggers’ to switch payment back for not-paying rent. Download the latest update on the projects from the DWP website.