Deven GhelaniPolicy in Practice

CIVEA Conference 2017

Using technology to help vulnerable households

Agenda

1. Introduction to Policy in Practice

2. Welfare reform: State of the nation

3. The costs of enforcement

4. A preventative approach

5. Q&A

We make the welfare system simple to understand, so that people can make the decisions that are right for them

www.policyinpractice.co.uk

Policy

national impact

Analytics

local impact

Software

individual impact

Policy in Practice is different

Large scale data analysis

27% of the total population in participating boroughs

Welfare reform is having an impact

The static picture

• 42% working-age households in work

• Average number of hours worked: 25

• 80% households earn below living wage

Poverty isn’t static

Dynamic analysis

• 12% households moved into or out of work in the last 12 months

• 8% out of work households moved into work

Financial resilience needs to be better understood

The impact in the coming years is likely to push household debt in the UK to new all time highs.

The pressure on living standards, and on enforcement is likely to get worse.

Policy in Practice analysis for the LGA

The impact up to 2020

121212

Intervening early: A case study

Why should enforcement agents intervene early?

• Your clients want you to – they know it is cheaper to support those in poverty prior to enforcement action

• More and more people will be ‘can’t pays’ – so enforcement is just a drain

• It is effective – your creditors will recover more if people feel supported by your agents.

• It is the right thing to do – acting as a partner for your local authority clients and their residents

Lara Jane and baby Sarah

Lara Jane is 30 years old, a lone parent and has a 3 month old baby, Sarah.

They both live in a shared house in East London which they rent from a private landlord.

Lara works 10 hours per week and has Council Tax arrears

Benefit, Budgeting and support in single system

Show the impact of moving into work, under the current system and UC

Compare scenarios and provide actionable advice

Apply for support within a fast engaging and easy to use interface

Quick, comprehensive and intuitive

Clear advice and support

Clear, printable action plans

Meet the Standard Financial Statement requirements

In conclusion…

• Pre-announced changes to the welfare system are now being felt by customers

• We estimate the average hit faced by low income households, on top of existing pressures will be over £40 per week by 2020

• You have a responsibility to help your clients, and their customers –they are all feeling the pinch

• You can help by finding ways to increase their income, and lower their expenditure prior to enforcement action

• Policy in Practice offers a tool that brings the welfare support together, around the customer

Carole Kenney

Phoenix

Phoenix is pleased to work with Policy in Practice to help deliver effective ethical enforcement whilst also supporting vulnerable people.

We use Policy in Practice's Benefit and Budgeting Calculator to improve our customers circumstances and create clear, realistic repayment plans based on ability to pay.

www.policyinpractice.co.uk

Thank you

Q&A

www.policyinpractice.co.uk

Research and slide deck available

Deven Ghelani

deven@policyinpractice.co.uk07863 560677@deven_ghelani

0330 088 9242www.policyinpractice.co.uk