Housing Benefit and the Welfare Reform Bill
On 16 February 2011 the Welfare Reform Bill was introduced to Parliament with proposals for the biggest change to the welfare system for over 60 years.
The Bill incudes a number of changes to Housing Benefit and the introduction of the Universal Credit payment.
With the Universal Credit payment a number of benefits will be included in one payment direct to the claimant. This will include Housing Benefit.
The Government has said that it wants to place responsibility for household budgeting with the household. Under Universal Credit, couples living in the same household will make a joint claim for the benefit payment. It will be for the family to decide who receives the benefit and for them to decide how to budget that money on rent and the needs of the household.
Payment directly to the household will be a significant change for some claimants as many Housing Benefit recipients in the current system have their benefit paid directly to their landlord.
:: more on housing benefit and the welfare reform bill
Your home, your standards - Local offers now agreed
As you may have read in the Home Affairs magazine, council tenants across the borough have now had a say on how they want their homes and estates managed in the future and have agreed a series of local offers with the council.
:: read more about your home, your standards
Tenants Annual Report
Council tenants can read about the performance of their housing service and how we have perfomed against the local offers in our new tenants annual report.
:: View the tenants annual report
New build council homes 2010 -12
Exciting plans to build 72 council homes over five sites in Dudley have been given the go ahead. Dudley has secured £4.3millon from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to part fund the first council homes in the borough fo 20 years.
Planning applications have now been approved. Contractors are now on site and it is our aim to have all schemes completed by February 2012. New build council homes 2010-12
Helping people to lead fulfilled and independent lives in homes of their choice in safe and active communities.
Dudley home improvement service
We offer homeowners and private rental tenants assistance with home repairs, improvements and adaptations. We can help with finding suitable finance, grants and benefits and offer a complete project management service for your building works or repairs.
:: read more about our home improvement service
