Legal Guidance and Research / Experts / Kevin Gannon
Kevin Gannon#13059

Kevin Gannon

Garden Court Chambers
Kevin has specialised in housing law for over 25 years. He has particular expertise in homeless appeals and in defending possession claims. He has particular interest in cases involving public law and human rights issues. He also has an interest and expertise in social security law and sits part time in the social security tribunal. He also now sits part time in the county court. He has experience of dealing with cases at all levels, including the Supreme Court.

Practice Area

Panel

  • Contributing Author

Education

  • University of York (2020)

1 Contributions by Kevin Gannon

Housing Benefit and Local Housing Allowance in Great Britain: Eligibility, Rent Restrictions, Pension-age, Specified/Temporary Accommodation, Calculation, Payments, Absence, Backdating, Overpayments, Appeals, DHP and Universal Credit
PRACTICE NOTES
Housing Benefit and Local Housing Allowance in Great Britain: Eligibility, Rent Restrictions, Pension-age, Specified/Temporary Accommodation, Calculation, Payments, Absence, Backdating, Overpayments, Appeals, DHP and Universal Credit
What is housing benefit? Housing benefit has traditionally been the support scheme to help people on limited incomes meet their rent. It is now largely superseded by the housing costs element within Universal Credit (UC). Most working-age people can no longer make a fresh claim for housing benefit. Nonetheless, it still applies to two sets of claimants: (a) those over pension age (b) those living in ‘specified’ or ‘temporary’ accommodation Eligibility for housing benefit Entitlement is assessed by looking at the rent due and the claimant’s income and capital (savings, property and investments). Housing benefit can be awarded to people who: pay rent are on a low income, and hold capital under £16,000, although for recipients of certain means-tested benefits, including the guarantee credit of pension credit, capital is disregarded Personal factors matter (such as the age and number of dependants, ownership of additional property, and other income received like maintenance payments or particular benefits). Claims are submitted to the local authority where the tenant lives. Joint tenants may claim housing benefit for their share of the rent. Housing benefit is generally not available for most new working-age claims, as support has shifted to Universal Credit (the housing costs element)...
Local Government
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