Universal Credit Goes Back To Its Future

Universal Credit is going back to its future – making what used to happen under Housing Benefit (HB) happen again. The DWP has scrapped the tenant consent clause so landlords who can prove arrears of two months or more can claim direct payments –  as used to happen under HB.  The DWP has confirmed to the RLA that landlords will no longer need tenants’ consent when applying for Alternative Payment Arrangements (APAs) – which allow the housing element of Universal Credit to be paid directly to the landlord. Until now a landlord would need the ‘explicit consent’ of the tenant to do this.  Read more on the RLA website.