Overpayments: Overpayments and disputes regarding overpayments continue to be one of the most contentious areas of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, with the rules once again changing in April 2009. The Workshop will provide an opportunity to examine in detail the various issues that need to be considered, whether it be for HB assessment staff or debt recovery officers in housing organisations. It will cover all the rules involved with overpayments and will look at the issues and common considerations needed in respect of dates, calculations, and related disputes. It will also look at the new rules that are applicable from April 2009 regarding recovery of overpayments from the claimant, landlord, partners, non-dependants and others. Topics covered during the day will include:

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·    What counts as an ‘overpayment’ of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit;

·    The new rules applicable from April 2009 regarding recovery of overpayments from the claimant, landlord, partners, non-dependants and others; 

·    Which overpayments are recoverable, and which are not;

·    How to calculate the amount of an overpayment;

·    General rules about which methods of recovery can be used;

·    Case law and recent developments on overpayments.

Backdating: The backdating of Housing Benefit is a topic that raises many contentious issues, and the rules are often misunderstood. The issue of ‘Good Cause’ is constantly challenged and a full explanation of this concept will be covered. Topics covered will include:

·       What is and is not backdating?

·       The concept of “good cause” for failure to claim earlier;

·       What is and is not good cause;

·       The automatic rule for 60+s and other rules;

·       Claims for backdating and the backdating time limit;

Commerciality: The course will look at this constantly challenging area and looks at when a letting is commercial and when it is not, including:

·       What is a ‘commercial’ letting?

·       Liability for rent – real and sham;

·       How a letting arrangement can start and stop being commercial;

·       The concept of an arm’s length relationship;

·       Friendliness and religious elements in lettings;

·       Fostering and disability related lettings;

·       Other aspects of commerciality and impact of Case Law.

To get full benefit from the course delegates should already have a basic understanding of Housing Benefit issues. By means of presentations, discussions and exercises our presenter, John Zebedee, will provide a fact-filled day covering the most up-to-date information available. Extensive course notes and helpful examples will be provided.

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Booking Fee: £190 + V.A.T. Includes lunch, course notes and refreshments.

BOOK THREE PLACES AT THE SAME VENUE AND RECEIVE A FOURTH PLACE FREE! _______________________________

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