Northumberland County Council

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Results for 'Housing benefits'

Redundancy & benefits (more info..)

If your job finishes due to redundancy or a voluntary severance scheme, you may need to claim social security benefits.

Local housing allowance (more info..)

This section provides information about local housing allowance and how much you could be entitled to.

Making a housing benefit claim (more info..)

Housing benefit can help you pay your rent if you are on a low income.

Backdated housing benefit claims (more info..)

If there is a reason that has prevented you from applying sooner, you can ask for this to be backdated.

Request backdating of housing benefit

Housing benefit change of circumstances (more info..)

It is crucial you inform of us of any changes in circumstances – yours or a member of your household’s.

Use our benefits calculator

Additional help & advice (more info..)

If you are already claiming housing benefit and need additional financial help, we may be able to help you.

Housing benefit change of circumstances (more info..)

It is crucial you inform of us of any changes in circumstances – yours or a member of your household’s.

Use our benefits calculator

Housing benefit overpayments (more info..)

An overpayment occurs when a benefit payment is made to someone who is not entitled to it. This normally happens when we are not informed of changes in circumstances quickly, when there have been mistakes or delays in processing claims, or when a fraudulent claim has been made.

Housing benefit overpayment

Welfare reform (more info..)

The government has made big changes to the benefits system as part of the Welfare Reform Act. A summary of these changes is given below.

Discretionary housing payments (more info..)

Discretionary housing payments are additional payments for those currently receiving housing benefit or universal credit that includes a housing element towards rental liability and require further financial assistance with their housing costs.

Rent officer & lettings (more info..)

To ensure the local housing allowance follows the market, the valuation office agency continually gathers lettings information from all available sources. Landlords can make a big impact by providing examples of properties let.

Benefits & support and money advice (more info..)

Benefits and support information, including housing benefit, debt advice and financial help, welfare rights, support for armed forces personnel and veterans and the new universal credit

Reporting benefit fraud (more info..)

People who deliberately claim benefits they are not entitled to are committing a criminal offence. If a landlord, who is paid housing benefit directly, fails to notify the council their tenant has left the property, they may be committing benefit fraud.

Report fraudulent activity

Housing benefit - important changes which may affect you (more info..)

Here we will give updates on any changes to the law which could affect your housing benefits. We will also provide local information, for your convenience:

Reporting benefit fraud (more info..)

Report fraudulent activity

Rothbury residents invited to housing drop-in session (more info..)

25 April 2017 Archived

Rothbury residents seeking advice on housing or council tax issues are being invited to a monthly, drop-in session.

Works starts on Multi-million pound housing project (more info..)

26 October 2017 Archived

Work has started on a multi-million pound project to upgrade homes on a Cramlington estate.

Council praised in housing awards (more info..)

31 July 2017 Archived

Northumberland County Council has been praised for its role as a landlord at a regional awards ceremony.

New look website will help people seeking a home in Northumberland (more info..)

19 April 2017 Archived

The search for a new home in Northumberland will now be much easier thanks to a re-design of Northumberland County Council’s housing allocation website.

New school, housing and retail approved for County Hall site (more info..)

07 March 2017 Archived

A brand new first school is set to be built on land at County Hall, Morpeth, after being given the green light by planners.

Innovative Cramlington project picks up prestigious housing award (more info..)

19 July 2018 Archived

A project to transform “Dorran” style properties on an estate in Cramlington has picked up two awards at a regional awards ceremony.

Young tenants' guide launched (more info..)

20 June 2017 Archived

Northumberland County Council in partnership with Silx Youth Project, a Blyth based organisation has launched a guidebook aimed at helping first time housing tenants.

New schools and leisure centre approved for Ponteland (more info..)

15 March 2017 Archived

Brand new schools and a leisure centre are set to be built on the site of the current Ponteland Leisure Centre after being given the green light by planners.

Community project under national spotlight (more info..)

26 July 2017 Archived

A community project helping to improve the lives of people living in Blyth was the focus of attention at a national conference.

Digital support on offer as Universal Credit rolls out (more info..)

08 November 2018 Archived

Universal Credit Full Service is being rolled out by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) across Northumberland over the next two months.

Grant kick starts community led affordable housing scheme (more info..)

22 November 2018 Archived

A community led affordable housing scheme is now underway in Haltwhistle thanks to a grant from Northumberland County Council.

Top award for infrastructure project (more info..)

12 October 2017 Archived

The North Morpeth Strategic Sewer project has won a prestigious regional planning award.

Young drivers encouraged to attend road safety event (more info..)

03 July 2017 Archived

Northumbria Police and Northumberland County Council are supporting the Young Drivers Event on Tuesday, 4 July, in Hexham.

Improving Northumberland Rights of Way (more info..)

03 May 2017 Archived

Three rights of way around Ponteland and Heddon on the Wall that are popular with local walkers, horse riders and cyclists have recently been improved by Northumberland County Council.

We’d like your views on the draft housing strategy for Northumberland (more info..)

15 May 2019

We are seeking the views of people who: Live in Northumberland Work in Northumberland

No results found

02.14 Appendix 2 - NCC Discretionary Housing Payments Policy 2013

Appendix 2 Revenues and

Service Discretionary

Payments Policy NCC Discretionary

Payment Policy 1 Appendix 2 Introduction 1. The Discretionary Financial Assistance Regulations 2001 (SI 2001 No.1167) gives powers to local authorit...

04.14 Appendix 2 - NCC Discretionary Housing Payments Policy 2013

Appendix 2 Revenues and

Service Discretionary

Payments Policy NCC Discretionary

Payment Policy 1 Appendix 2 Introduction 1. The Discretionary Financial Assistance Regulations 2001 (SI 2001 No.1167) gives powers to local authorit...

16 Appendix 2 - NCC Discretionary Housing Payments Policy 2013

Appendix 2 Revenues and

Service Discretionary

Payments Policy NCC Discretionary

Payment Policy 1 Appendix 2 Introduction 1. The Discretionary Financial Assistance Regulations 2001 (SI 2001 No.1167) gives powers to local authorit...

06 Affordable Housing Programme

COMMUN ITIES AND PLACE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE 9 OCTOBER 2013 Policy Board Date: {TBC} The Council’s affordable

programme Report of the Corporate Director of Adults,

and Community Health Services Policy Board Member: Councillor Allan He...

04.1 Housing Strategy

Strategy for Northumberland 2013-2018 Final (text) version for approval October 2013 Contents: 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................... 4 a) Purpos...

03 EY Certification of Claims anad Returns Annual Report

Certification of claims and returns annual report 2015-16 Northumberland County Council January 2017 Ernst & Young LLPErnst & Young LLP Tel: + 44 191 247 2530 City Gate Fax: + 44 191 247 2501 St James’ Boulevard ey.com Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 4JD Tel: 023 8038 2000 11 January ...

05 Affordable Housing

POLICY BOARD Date: 12 November 2013 The Council’s affordable

programme Report of the Corporate Director of Adult Care,

and Community Health Services Policy Board Member: Councillor Allan Hepple, Planning,

and Regeneration Purpose of report...

05 Affordable Housing

POLICY BOARD Date: 12 November 2013 The Council’s affordable

programme Report of the Corporate Director of Adult Care,

and Community Health Services Policy Board Member: Councillor Allan Hepple, Planning,

and Regeneration Purpose of report...

06.1 Welfare Rights Annual Report 2015-16

July 2016 Contents 1.Summary ....................................................................................................................... 3 2. Welfare reform ...............................................

02 Minutes

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY COUNCIL TENANTS’ VOICE At a meeting of the Tenants’ Voice held in Committee Room 1 at County Hall, Morpeth on, 18 February 2016 at 5:00 pm. PRESENT Councillor G R Arckless (in the Chair) COUNCILLORS G Castle, B M Flux, A Hepple, G Webb ...

05 Draft Housing Strategy 2013-2018

C A

Strategy for Northumberland 2013-2018 Draft version for consultation 1 July 2013 Draft for consultation 1 26/6/13 Contents: Page Foreword 1. Introduction ? Purpose of this strategy ? The Northumb...

06. Welfare Rights - Covering Report

C CARE AND WELLBEING OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE Date: 19 July 2015 Welfare Rights Annual Report 2015-16 Report of the executive director of Wellbeing and Community Health Services Policy Board Member: Councillor Susan Dungworth, Adult Care and Public Healt...

5b. Welfare Rights Annual Report 2013-14 - Appendix (Appendix Bii)

Welfare Rights Annual Report 2013/14 June 2014 Contents 1. Summary ......................................................................................................... 3 2. Welfare Reform ..................

06.3 Housing Working Group Report

WORKING GROUP REPORT TO THE COMMUNITIES AND PLACE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE 24 JUNE 2014 The

Working Group met on 11 February 2014 and 20 May 2014 and discussed the following main issues. Members’ attention is particularly drawn to a...

6.1 Housing Working Group Report

WORKING GROUP REPORT TO THE COMMUNITIES AND PLACE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE 24 JUNE 2014 The

Working Group met on 11 February 2014 and 20 May 2014 and discussed the following main issues. Members’ attention is particularly drawn to a...

Discretionary Housing Payments

Reference: 3008

For all of the following, we would like to request data for the year 2016/17 (The twelve months between the beginning of April 2016 and the end of March 2017). Please complete all of the fields that you can.

A All applicants

All DHP applications and awards
1. The total discretionary housing payment (DHP) budget available to your local authority for the 2016/17 financial year [please include, and specify, any additional funds granted].

2. The amount spent or committed on DHPs at the end of the year 2016/17.

3. The number of applications for DHP received by your local authority in the year 2016/17.

4. The number of applications refused.

Length of time of award
5. The average length of time a DHP award was given for in 2016/17

Repeat applicants (if recorded)
6. The number of applications received where the applicant had previously received a DHP from your authority

7. The number of applications refused where the applicant had previously received a DHP from your authority

B Applicants affected by the benefit cap

DHP applications and awards
8. The number of applications received from applicants who had their benefits reduced by the household benefit cap

9. The number of applications refused to applicants who had their benefits reduced by the household benefit cap.

10. The number of applications refused to applicants who had their benefits reduced by the household benefit cap and had previously received a DHP award by your local authority (if recorded).

Length of time of award for benefit cap affected households
11. The average length of time a DHP awarded to households affected by the benefit cap was given for in 2016/17

12. The number of DHPs awarded to households affected by the benefit cap given for the different time periods listed

a. Less than 4 weeks (includes one-off payments)
b. 4 weeks to 12 weeks
c. Between 12 weeks and 26 weeks
d. Between 26 weeks and 52 weeks
e. More than 52 weeks

Applicants affected by the benefit cap who are single parents with dependent children aged 0 or 1 year’s old (if recorded)
13. The number of applications received where the applicant was impacted by the benefit cap and was a single parent with dependent children aged 0 or 1 years old (if recorded).

14. The number of applications refused where the applicant was impacted by the benefit cap and was a single parent with dependent children aged 0 or 1 years old (if recorded).

15. The number of applications refused where the applicant was impacted by the benefit cap and was a single parent with dependent children aged 0 or 1 years old, and had previously received a DHP award (if recorded).

C Discretionary Housing Payments allocation policy
Your most recent Discretionary Housing Payments policy document, setting out the procedures in place for determining DHP awards

Council tax

Reference: 3501

1) Name of your existing software product for processing of Council Tax?
e.g. Capita, Northgate, Civica or other, please give Company and or product name.

2) Date of the next software licence renewal?
if a perpetual licence then the date of maintenance renewal please?

3) Annual cost of software (Council Tax)?
i.e. software licence and or maintenance (if not separated from Housing Benefit and or NNDR, then total cost please)

4) Are the printing of Council tax bills produced in-house or by external provider?

5) The average cost to the Authority per bill produced? (To calculate cost I do not require staffing costs, so Information Technology cost, printing, postage, collating and any other direct costs, divided by the number of bills produced, please do not deduct revenue from advertisers, that may sponsor bill production).

Media subscriptions

Reference: 3520

Which newspapers, magazines, journals & online subscriptions did the organisation procure or receive free during the year 16/17?

Customer Contact

Reference: 3615

I’m interested in understanding how local residents are interacting with their local council.

1) Breakdown of volumes of contact (15/16 and 16/17) for the following channels:
· Face to face
· Telephone
· Web

2) For 2016/17, please provide a breakdown of contact by the following type of transaction:
· Application – e.g. applying for services or career opportunities;
· Payments – e.g. paying for a range of fees, fines or taxes;
· Tracking – e.g. monitoring progress service requests and applications;
· Booking and reservations – e.g. making appointments with the council, and booking items and events;
· Renewals – e.g. renewing items like permits and licences;
· Reporting – e.g. notifying the council of problems and issues that need addressing;
· Finding information – e.g. locating and requesting information on local services and tourism.

3) For 2016/17, breakdown of telephone enquiries by your services or service areas (e.g. revenues and benefits, parking, housing, planning etc).

Housing Management software

Reference: 3556

In regards to the housing management software information gathered from last year are there any updates to the following;

Housing Management Software used = Capita (Academy)

Asset Management Software used = Capita (Academy)

Troubled families programme

Reference: 3132

I would like to request some information regarding the first phase of the Troubled Families Programme.

Page 23 of the Troubled Families Financial Framework for phase 1 of the Troubled Families Programme (available here) states, in respect of claims made for adults moving off out-of-work benefits and into 'continuous employment', that:

Remaining in ‘continuous employment’ will need to be self-certified by the local authority, using locally determined verification systems, as Jobcentre Plus do not collect this information.

I would therefore like to request the following information, under the Freedom of Information Act:
Could you please tell me what locally determined verification systems you used to establish that adults who had moved off out-of-work benefits were in continuous employment for the period of time required to make a claim for success in the ‘achieving continuous employment result’. (i.e. how did you establish locally that the adult was in continuous employment and not just 'off' out-of-work benefits).

Wheelchair accessible housing

Reference: 2928

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I am submitting the following requests;

1. How many live applications does your Local Authority currently have on your housing list for wheelchair accessible housing?

2. How many wheelchair accessible homes were let to wheelchair users in the years of 2015 and 2017 inclusive in your locality through your general needs housing process?

Council housing boiler brands

Reference: 3684

In regards to housing stock;

1· does the council procure (OJEU TED or other) for boilers?

2· at present which brand of boiler is used in council houses?

Housing association refusals

Reference: 3527

Please can you tell me on how many occasions over the past five years housing associations have turned down a council nomination for a person to be given accommodation because of affordability concerns. Please provide the number of individuals turned down in each year.

If the housing association has stated the affordability concerns stem from the person being subject to the benefit cap or Universal Credit then please make this clear.

Please also list the name of the housing association that has turned down the nomination.

Housing benefit

Reference: 3585

I am writing to request the names of the 25 individual or corporate landlords, excluding housing associations, who have received the largest amounts of housing benefit over the last three financial years (ie. between 1/4/14 and 31/3/17).

In each case, please include housing benefit payments made directly to the landlords and, if possible, payments made to tenants which you are able to link to landlords.

I would like to draw your attention to an ICO ruling on the use of the Section 40 exemption in this context. It ruled in favour of the disclosure of the names of individual landlords: https://ico.org.uk/media/action-weve-taken/decision-notices/2015/1043296/fs_50547446.pdf

Contracts & Postage

Reference: 3700

1 Please supply email address and direct telephone number for your Transformation Manager or equivalent

2 Please supply email address for your Chief Financial Information or equivalent

3 Please supply email address and direct telephone number for your Revenues and Benefits Manager or equivalent

4 Please supply email address and direct telephone number for your Procurement Manager or equivalent

5 Please confirm the name of the supplier(s) who prints and arranges the posting of your Annual Council Tax and Business Rates Bills.

6 Please confirm if this supplier also produces Council Tax and Business Rates Bills and associated documents for the council during the year (ie., “ad-hoc” billing), or if the council produces these internally

7 If the council uses an outside supplier for the printing and mailing, can you confirm when that contract is due to end?

8 What method would be used to procure a new contract once the existing contract ends? For example, does the council use a tender framework or portal to choose a supplier?

9 What is the council’s annual spend, including postage costs, on Council Tax and Business Rates Bill printing and mailing?

10 How many ‘packs’ does the Council produce each year for its annual/daily billing requirements (a pack is one envelope with contents)

11 Which revenues software system do you use (e.g. Northgate, Capita, Civica) Postage Volumes and Costs

12 Please provide costs for any postage sent out from the authority as a whole using any mail provider (e.g. Royal mail, Neopost, Pitney Bowes)

13 Please provide the name of your mail provider/s Hybrid Mail Solution

12 Do you utilise a hybrid mail solution…if so which one and who is the contract with

13 Please provide the name, email and telephone number of the person who is responsible for the hybrid mail solution 14 When is your hybrid mail contract up for renewal

15 What method would be used to procure a new hybrid mail contract once the existing contract ends? For example, does the council use a tender framework or portal to choose a specific hybrid mail supplier?

16 How many packs per month do you create via the solution

17 What cost do you pay for the creation and mailing of each ‘pack’

18 How many users are using the solution in the office and working from home Additional Information

19 Please confirm who provides you with all printing & mailing requirements/services for the following departments:- Housing Finance Parking Social Care Planning Electoral Administration

20 Please provide associated costs for the printing & mailing of the above departments

21 Please identify whether the service is contracted or provided ‘in-house’

22 If one or all of the service areas above are contracted please provide date when the contract expires

Housing benefit payments

Reference: 3437

A Whats was the total amount paid out in housing benefit to private sector landlords

B What was the total amount paid out in housing benefit to social housing providers

C What was the total amount of overpayments to

(A) Private Sector Landlords and (B) Social Housing Providers

From the total amount of over payments to both social and private sector housing providers how much has (A) been and collected and (B) outstanding and (C )Written off

Immigration housing condition reports

Reference: 3535

1. Can you please advise of the amount of Immigration Housing Condition Reports the Council’s Environmental Health Department have undertaken in the years:

1st January 2015 to 31st December 2015
1st January 2016 to 31st December 2017
1st January 2017 to 31st December 2017

2. Can you also please advise of the Countries of Birth around the world of the Visa applicants named within these reports

3. Can you please advise of the cost for an immigration housing condition report for each of the years detailed above?

Staff leaving the authority

Reference: 3225

a) Since 04/05/2017 how many staff have left the authority through redundancy?
b) Since 04/05/2017 how much has been spent on redundancy costs?
c) Since 04/05/2017 how many staff have left the authority on compromise agreements?
d) Since 04/05/2017 how much has been spent on compromise agreements including all benefits to the leaving party?

Home adaptations in housing

Reference: 3125

For disabled tenants living in your Council Housing stock who need home adaptations, do you operate a grant process equivalent to the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG)? Yes / No

1B If ‘No’, how do tenants request / apply for home adaptations?

2 Is the provision of home adaptations for your tenants costing more than £1,000, means tested? Yes / No

3 Are adaptations for your tenants generally funded from your Housing Revenue Account? Yes / No

4 In 2016/17 how much did you spend on adaptations to your Council Housing stock £

5 From initial request / referral, on average how long did it take to complete each adaptation costing more than £1,000
weeks

6 Are all requests / applications for adaptations costing more than £1,000, assessed by an Occupational Therapist? Yes / No

7 Do you keep a register of the adapted / accessible homes in your Council Housing stock? Yes / No

8 For 2016/17 how many home adaptations costing more than £1,000 did you provide for Council Housing tenants:
Aged under 20
Aged 20 to 65
Aged over 65

9 For 2016/17 how many home adaptations did you provide for Council Housing tenants that costed:
Between £1,000 and £5,000
Between £5,000 and £15,000
Over £15,000

10 For 2016/17 how many requests / referrals for home adaptations for Council Housing tenants were refused?

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