You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
Welsh housing minister writes to Rudd over 53-week Universal Credit issue
A Welsh housing minister has written to work and pensions secretary Amber Rudd expressing concern that social tenants on Universal Credit will lose out next year because of a quirk in the calendar.
Hannah Blythyn, deputy housing and local government minister for the Labour-run Welsh Government, called for a permanent solution to the “53 Mondays issue”.
Inside Housing reported last month that the National Housing Federation (NHF) in England is at loggerheads with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) over the problem – which it says could leave tenants claiming Universal Credit a week short on rent in 2019/20.
Many social landlords collect rent every Monday – and in 2019/20 there will be 53 Mondays.
However, the Universal Credit system will continue to account for only 52 rent weeks over the year, with the NHF and its equivalent body in Wales, Community Housing Cymru (CHC), arguing that this will mean social tenants paying their rent weekly using Universal Credit are short-changed.
READ MORE
CHC has said that more than 13,000 tenants in Wales will be affected.
The DWP initially claimed that any impact on tenants would be minimal – but has since shifted its position to argue that there is no issue at all and that no one will see a rent shortfall.
In a letter to Ms Rudd seen by Inside Housing, Ms Blythyn said: “Social landlords are already reporting increasing levels of rent arrears particularly for tenants who have moved on to Universal Credit.
“A shortfall in the level of housing-related benefit caused by the ‘53 Mondays’ issue will add to the problem. As this will be a recurring problem, it happened last in 2013-14, it would seem appropriate for us to look for a permanent solution.
“I would therefore be grateful if you could consider how the Universal Credit (Claims and Payments Regulations) 2013 may be amended so that tenants on weekly rental arrangements are not disadvantaged.
“A change in the regulations will not only safeguard those in 2019-20 but will ensure this anomaly will cease to exist in future years.
“I believe it is entirely commensurate with the intention of Universal Credit to properly fund these costs falling to tenants and trust you will act to address this matter.”
The DWP has been approached for comment.
Ms Blythyn’s letter comes as CHC calls on the DWP to improve its data-sharing with social landlords about when tenants will be transferring to Universal Credit from the legacy benefit system.
It said landlords are not currently set to get any advance notice when tenants transfer, meaning those who will need advice about their claim could lose out on payments.
