The Government has put back the date it is to formally announce the six housing association and councils who will road test direct benefit payments to tenants next year. The measure - which will come in with Universal Credit in 2013 - will see tenants paid their benefits directly, a move which landlords fear could increase their arrears and preferential borrowing rates from banks. The pilots will test how to support tenants and landlords on the introduction of direct payments – such as offering budgeting advice to tenants and placing a trigger which switches the housing payment to landlords if the tenant gets behind with their rent. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) had hoped to inform successful organisations before Christmas, but a spokesperson confirmed today the announcement will now be made next year; understood to be early January. Read more on 24dash.
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