Factors to consider if affordability risk rating accurate

You need to consider whether the risk rating as determined by the formula represents the client's level of need and whether the client has a high affordability rating due to choice.

The affordability rating may need to be reviewed in the following situations:

• the client is not getting their full entitlement to benefits or family tax credits by choice. The assessed entitlement to benefit and family tax credit should be used as their net income in this situation
• the client has a sanction against their benefit which has reduced their rate paid. The assessed entitlement to benefit should be used as their net income in this situation
• the client is getting Temporary Additional Support to assist with high rent costs and this may lower their affordability rating if it was considered
• the client is a seasonal worker and their income pattern has been assessed as a spike and they are currently on a benefit or lower wage for a short period of time, however the lower quartile rent will be sustainable when they are working or in a normal season
• the client is a student and gets a Student Loan to cover living expenses (a Student Loan is not considered income for the assessment of social housing or Income Related Rent purposes) and if this income was considered it may lower their affordability rating
• the client is a student who gets Student Allowance and Accommodation Benefit and the use of Accommodation Supplement has resulted in a low rating

If you consider a client's initial priority rating needs to be reviewed in any of the above situations, you will need to do this by changing the client's initial priority rating.