CONSULTANCY
Areas of Work
I can help you with most questions about housing benefit and
other benefits which affect your work. Here are some of the things I have been
asked to do over the last few years:
Housing Benefit generally
-
represent at tribunals;
-
assist a charity to identify what it should be
doing about Housing Benefit issues;
-
help an association respond to a large bill for
alleged Housing Benefit overpayments and negotiate with the local authority to
reduce the bill;
-
provide information and draw up a procedure for
dealing with future requests for repayment of alleged overpayments, provide on
going technical support to staff dealing with overpayment requests;
-
draw up policies and procedures for dealing with
delays in payment of Housing Benefit and negotiate with the local authority to
reduce these delays;
-
negotiate with an authority following a threat to
end payment of benefit direct to the association;
-
help an association challenge a decision that its
rents where too high to be met in full about housing benefit;
-
advise on setting up procedures to ensure that rent
is not lost because Housing Benefit has not been claimed or a claim has
lapsed;
-
provide information on what service charges are and
are not eligible for Housing Benefit and what to do if the local authority
disputes this;
-
help negotiate a rent level in a project providing
care and support;
The methods I use vary according to what you need. I work all over the
England, Scotland and Wales. Very often I find that problems can be solved
by getting a full picture of what is going on as a result of having discussions
over the phone and you sending me documents to look at. I then do a
written report which we then discuss over the phone. This means that I can
work anywhere without additional expense on travel. But other ways of
working include:
-
meeting with you, at your office or mine, to help
you clarify the issues and draw up policies or procedures;
-
providing a written opinion on what the law
says, giving references to the relevant regulations and guidance, which you
can use in your negotiations with the local authority or the Benefits Agency;
-
making presentations to your colleagues;
-
accompanying you to meetings with the local
authority or the Benefits Agency;
-
negotiating on your behalf with the local authority
or the Benefits Agency;
-
providing hotline telephone support to named
members of staff;
-
providing specialist welfare benefits input into
your planning or strategy meetings;
-
training staff who will be dealing with benefits.
I will always give you an estimate of expenses before
we start if you ask for one and I pride myself on not dragging consultancy out
to make more money. Never be afraid to ask me how much a piece of work
will cost!
Interested?
If you are interested, send me an e-mail or give me a ring on
01273 47 40 70.
This page last updated 25.06.08