Local Housing Allowance Knowsley Council Housing Benefits Service

Local Housing Allowance Knowsley Council, Housing Benefits Service by Colette Kearns, Landlord Liaison Officer

LHA - Contents • • • Introduction Safeguard policy Current LHA claims Performance Processing claims/requests for direct payment • Summary & Questions

Introduction • HB criticised as complex, doing little to promote personal responsibility • HB can create barriers to work • HB does little to assist tenants to develop essential financial and budgeting skills

Safeguard Policy Knowsley developed a policy to identify claimants for whom payment should be made direct to the landlord. • Safeguarding tenants who are unable to take responsibility for payment of their rent • May be referred by landlord or other third party (e. g. advice/support workers), with whom we’ll work closely • In cases where tenancy bond is held, LHA will be paid to landlord • Some claims will always be paid to landlords; others will be reviewed periodically • Each case is assessed on its own merits

Current LHA claims Currently 3036 LHA claims, of which: • 2446 are paid to the claimant (81%) • 590 are paid to the landlord (19%) Of the 590 cases paid to landlord 379 (64%) are due to at least 8 weeks’ rent arrears

Performance Target for new claims 2010/11 is 29 days; actual for April 2010 was 21. 31 days Target for changes of circumstances 2010/11 is 9 days; actual for April 2010 was 7. 48 days

Processing of claims/requests for direct payments Helpful if landlord can: • Make sure tenants are provided with a tenancy agreement. • Keep rent collection records up to date • Contact me as soon as there appears to be as problem with a tenants rent payments • Provide rent account statement with application for direct payments (due to arrears) • Complete BACS form and notify us of any change of bank details (where receiving direct payments of LHA/HB)

Summary • Safeguards used effectively for those claimants where direct payment to landlord is appropriate • Current LHA claims • How landlords can help us to speed up claims • Performance targets exceeded

Questions?