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An Introduction to Housing Benefit & Council Tax Reduction
An Introduction To Housing Benefit & CTR For Local Authority Staff (2 Days)
A Two-Day Workshop for anyone requiring an introduction or refresher on local authority-administered benefits, including Housing Benefit (HB) and Council Tax Support training (CTR), within the broader context of welfare reform.
NEXT WORKSHOP:
Tuesday & Wednesday,
3rd & 4th November, 2026.
2 x Full-Day Workshop: (9:40 - 4:30)
Workshop Fee: £545. (No VAT)
Book 3 places and receive a 4th place FREE.
An Introduction To Housing Benefit & CTR For Local Authority Staff (2 Days)
As the roll-out of Universal Credit reaches completion, the HB caseload now predominantly consists of working age individuals in temporary and supported housing, along with pensioners situated in various private and socially rented accommodations. Local authorities also administer means tested Council Tax Support, as well as a range of fringe and discretionary entitlements such as the Crisis and Resilience Fund. This fully updated workshop is designed to equip local authority assessment staff and customer service advisers with a comprehensive introduction to the knowledge necessary for managing this caseload starting from Autumn 2026.
Day One will commence with a brief overview of the UK Social Security system, highlighting the roles of HB and CTR. We will discuss the various benefits available to pensioners and working age clients, including scenarios involving mixed age couples. The main features of the Crisis Resilience Fund, which provides discretionary assistance with housing costs and supports individuals facing financial shocks, will also be covered. The introductory session will conclude with a review of eligibility rules applicable to multiple benefits, including information on student entitlements as well as immigration and residence criteria.
Day One will then shift focus to Housing Benefit for those who continue to receive it, starting with definitions around temporary and supported accommodation that determine whether a working age claimant should apply for HB or Universal Credit. We will also review the rules concerning occupancy as a home for all age groups, including HB claims during overlapping notice periods and temporary absences. The day will wrap up with insights on “maximum HB” – the eligible rent for private and social sector tenants, considering non-dependant deductions where applicable. This session will ensure participants understand how much HB can be allocated for supported accommodation, clarifying differences between managed and exempt placements.
On Day Two, we’ll dive into the HB means test calculation, exploring aspects such as the applicable amount, income, and capital. With the launch of Universal Credit, Council Tax Support training will reveal that it is now less common to encounter working-age HB cases requiring full means-testing. Most working-age HB claimants in temporary and supported housing obtain UC for their living costs. However, we will discuss means testing for those whose earnings surpass UC thresholds—emphasizing the updated HB earnings disregards effective from 5 October 2026. We will also address frequent questions related to mixed age couples, including which individuals are safeguarded from the transition to working age benefits and the methodology to calculate HB entitlements in such cases, as well as the relationship between CTR and HB.
Continuing on Day Two, the session will explore the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, detailing the similarities and variances between CTR and HB. (For in-house courses, this segment will incorporate local area specifics for working age CTR schemes.)
Lastly, we will examine the administrative processes related to HB and CTR—including claims, communication with the DWP, changes in circumstances, backdating, payment processes (such as direct payment of HB to landlords), overpayments, and foundational strategies for advising clients interested in appeals.
Note: The programme is indicative and may be adjusted to accommodate any recent rule changes and the unique needs of specific groups or organizations. Additional one-day Training Workshops are also offered to cover particular or more intricate topics, such as Claims From The Self-employed, Submitting Appeals, Commerciality & Contrivance, Overpayments, and Claims From Persons Arriving From Overseas, among others.
Presented by Peter Barker, a highly experienced trainer, appeals presenter, and submission writer.
Programme: Day One
Introductions & Course Overview
The UK Benefits System
· Contribution-based, means tested and other versions
· Fringe benefits (e.g., Crisis Resilience Fund)
· Working age, pensioners, and mixed age couples
· Special groups: students, immigration, and residence tests
HB - Eligibility
· Temporary and supported housing
· Liability for rent and eligible payments
· Occupation of the dwelling (absence, 2 homes)
Maximum HB For Social & Private Tenants
· Service charges
· LHA rates
· Supported and temporary housing
· Non-dependants
Programme: Day Two
Means-Testing
· The “family” – claimant, partner, children
· Applicable amount
· Income and capital
· Effect of being on UC and how earnings can affect HB in supported and temporary accommodation
· Mixed age couples: the definitive correct method!
The Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme
New Claims / Applications
· How and where to claim
· Supporting evidence
· Backdating
Administration Of A “Live” Award
· Changes in circumstances, payments, etc.
· “Moving on” from supported or temporary accommodation
HB Overpayments
· Recoverable and non-recoverable overpayments
· From whom an overpayment can be recovered
· Recovery methods
Appeals
· Overview of the HB and CTR appeal procedures
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It is only possible to briefly touch on Universal Credit in this 2-Day Workshop. We also provide a one-day stand-alone ‘Introduction to Universal Credit’ Workshop covering who qualifies, how it’s calculated (including employment and self-employment rules), work-seeking conditionality, and managing an online claim. This standalone day can be booked by anyone working in benefits as an in-house Workshop specifically for their own organisation. See our website page for full details.
In-House Workshop Required?
We are always pleased to arrange our Workshops, including Council Tax Support training, Housing Benefit workshops, and Universal Credit training, for staff from an individual organisation. These can be held at their own training venue (currently available only in London and the South East) or via Zoom/TEAMS. Please email us with your requirements for further details.
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