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.