Welfare Funds (Scotland) Bill

Consultation Event 21 November 2013

Starting Point…• Plans for Social Fund reform announced –

UC White Paper Dec 2010• Spend in Scotland on Community Care

Grants and Crisis Loans transferred to SG• Real terms reductions in spend plus

complexities of welfare reform• Consultation – Autumn 2011 – what and

how to deliver• High expectations vs. short timescale

Developing the Scottish Welfare Fund

Addresses similar needs to previous provision

What’s the difference?

►No loans ►Grants and goods►Local delivery by

LG but national guidance

►Linking to other support – it’s holistic

Scottish Welfare Fund – Two Purposes

provide a safety net in an emergency when there is an immediate threat to health or safety

Crisis Grant

enable independent living or continued independent living, reducing the need for institutional care

provide support to families under exceptional pressure

Community Care Grant

To offer grants or in kind support in order to:

Monitoring and Evaluation

To inform permanent arrangements and improve decision making/promote consistency:• Quantitative - Detailed data spec to IT providers

– quarterly upload. (Variable quality).• Quarterly qualitative feedback and meetings with

LAs.• Case sampling and LA visits.• Information from complaints and reviews.• Independent evaluation including user

interviews.

Early Experiences• 32 Local Authorities providing a service from

day 1 - predominantly based in revs and bens.• Problems with IT, online application added

later, reporting modules absent, workarounds.• Issues with DWP/related welfare benefits –

Short Term Benefit Advance, benefit transition.• Developing and refining service/fulfilment

options, building local networks.• Building case experience and refining decision

making skills.

Spend Levels

• High initial demand predicted did not materialise.

• Spend levels low in first few months – multiple reasons.

• Revised guidance.• Promotional activity under way.• Exceeding monthly profile in October.• Still early days…

Added Value

• Service embedded with others – connections to support workers – e.g. homelessness, welfare rights, debt advice.

• Connections to local support – LA and third sector.

• Better value for money – economies of scale on goods, furniture re-use, reclaiming VAT.

• Reduced speculative applications – goods, local knowledge, home visits, support workers.

Challenges

• National framework but local delivery – achieving consistency in decision making but fostering local responses.

• Understanding what is happening in a complex system.

• Links with DWP – information sharing, changes to benefits, avoiding applicant “ping pong”.

Timetable• Consult on legislation and plans for second tier

review – to 7 February 2014.• Finalise policy, develop regulations, plans for

review and update the draft bill.• Introduce legislation – June 2014.• Make draft regs available for comment –

Summer 2014.• Lay regs – when Royal Assent received for

Welfare Funds (Scotland) Bill.• Permanent scheme in operation – Spring 2015.

Guidance, how to apply, LA contact details, briefing notes etc all at:

http://www.scotland.scottishwelfarefund.gov.uk

Questions?