Jun 21st 2020, 20:36

AN IMPORTANT SINGLE WORK FROM CPAG COVERING COMPLEX AND CONFUSING LEGISLATION FOR HOUSING AND COUNCIL TAX BENEFITS

An appreciation by Elizabeth Taylor of Richmond Green Chambers and Phillip Taylor MBE, Head of Chambers, Reviews Editor, “The Barrister”, and Mediator


The statutes covering entitlement to benefits remain as complex, confusing, very technical and utterly unintelligible to many people – the advisers, the claimants and the adjudicators alike. For that reason, we are very grateful to the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) for the tremendous service they offer all of us with their outstanding publications.

This annual title on housing benefit and council tax reductions legislation from CPAG is now in its thirty-second edition for 2019/20. It gives us, in one paperback volume, all the relevant primary and secondary legislation which governs housing benefit and the council tax reduction schemes in England, Wales and Scotland.

We also get expert commentary on the rules, the latest caselaw, official guidance and advice on administrative and practical issues. The original commentary was compiled by Lorna Findlay as an essential resource for anyone dealing with housing benefit enquiries.

The new team comprising Richard Poynter, Carolyn George, Stewart Wright, Martin Williams, Susan Mitchell and Mark Brough offer expert guidance for those preparing and presenting appeals, as well as lawyers, local authority staff and housing organisations needing this detailed advice.

It's recognised across the UK that the work of the CPAG remains of crucial importance today with the increasing detail which affects all aspects of social welfare law. CPAG’s advice covers the more than one in four children in the United Kingdom who are growing up in poverty. “It does not have to be like this” says the organisation. They go on to say that “we use our understanding of what causes poverty and the impact it has on a child’s life to campaign for policies that will prevent and solve poverty… for good.”


We found this book, its layout and content very useful. You can find the handbook in local libraries, the courts and at Citizens Advice. Advisers will be able to use the handbook in all housing benefit cases coming before the First-tier Tribunal. Most usefully, the team of writers have included an updating Supplement for the summer 2020.


The publication date of this paperback thirty-second edition is cited as at 15th December 2019. The legislation is up to date to 31st October 2019.