Welfare Reform

Kerry MaynardDecember 2015

What this session will cover

• A recap of the main changes in welfare reform from April 2013• Where we are now• Financial support available from the Council• Financial Resilience strategy• Recently announced changes• How will Calderdale MBC respond to these?• What next?

Recap in main changes from April 2013

1 April 2013 Under occupancy in social sector housing1 April 2013 Social fund reform1 April 2013 Localised Council Tax Reduction Scheme15 July 2013 Benefits CapOctober 2013 ongoing Universal Credit roll out

Social Sector Size Criteria

• On 1 April 2013 1,503 social sector households affected in Calderdale• This number has reduced to 957 at the end of October (-36%)• Of which, 287 households include 456 children• Partnership working with social landlords ongoing• Joint working with Troubled Families colleagues• Most households have adjusted to the change and are paying the shortfall• A very small % are ‘won’t pay and won’t move’

Social Fund Reform

Replaced in Calderdale by a Local Welfare Assistance scheme

Emergency Living Support• Food vouchers and fuel tops available• 39 awards since April 2015• Average award £47• Emergency, or disaster, out of the applicants control

Social Fund Reform continued

Community Living Support•Essential furniture – beds and bedding, cookers, refrigerators etc •183 awards since April 2015•Average award £338Helps people:•Return to the community after being in care•Stay in their home rather than go into care•Set up home in the community after having an unsettled way of life (as part of a planned programme of resettlement)•Ease exceptional pressures on families because of a family breakdown or illness

Council Tax Reduction Scheme

• Calderdale agreed to fund year 1 (2013/14) with no impact on residents

• Year 2 and 3 (2014/15 and 2015/16) – CTR cut by 19% for working age applicants– Any entitlement less than £2 weekly won’t be awarded – Pensioners continue to receive the same level of help as they do now

Benefits Cap 2013

• 120 households identified prior to ‘go-live’ on 15 July• At 30.10.15, 48 households affected by the £26k cap • Each household affected offered support to discuss options available• Very few households have taken up support both financial and advisory

• Went ‘live’ in Calderdale from 27 April • Single people who would have normally claimed JSA• Around 1,300 local people have now applied for UC• 17 have been referred for personal budgeting support • Next expected change in Calderdale due in Summer 2016• Couples and families who would normally have claimed JSA

Universal Credit

Financial support available from the Council

•Discretionary housing payment•Council Tax reduction hardship fund•Local Welfare Assistance Scheme

Financial support available from the Council

Discretionary Housing Payment•Funding provided by DWP - maximum of £278K for 2015/16•Council’s are permitted to invest up to 2.5 times this amount if required•Helps people with a shortfall between HB and rental liability•Also helps with bonds and removal costs to enable move to affordable accommodation•Local policy reviewed and implemented from April 2015 •174 awards since April 2015 totalling £71k

Financial support available from the Council

Council Tax Reduction Hardship Fund•Available to anyone:

– Who receives CTR and,– Receiving assistance to manage their finances or address debt issues

•3 months CTR awarded as a one off payment•2 months hold on any further recovery action•446 awards made since August 2014

Financial Resilience Strategy

Since 2013 there has been a clear Council commitment to financial resilience/inclusion as a key part of implementing welfare reforms

Welfare Reform Strategic Partnership est. January 2013 main objectives: – Strong partnership approach to managing welfare reform& supporting

financial resilience – e.g. developing shared evidence/data, training, communications etc.

– To enhance advice services - particularly around debt and money management

– To support fair finance options for local people – i.e. credible alternatives to pay day lenders like Credit Union

Financial Resilience current activity

Grants awarded from April 2015 to:

– Citizens Advice Bureau consortium: CAB, Womencentre, Age UK and DART (Making Advice Work - MAW); working with Cooking School

– Calderdale Carers/ Noah’s Ark/Healthy Minds – Focus on debt/money management and mental health

– Christians Together Calderdale/Ebenezer Centre – St. Augustine's - Client group non English speaking migrants, refugees

– first point of call

Recently announced reforms

April 2016 Working age benefits frozen for 4 yearsApril 2016 ongoing * Further reductions to the Benefits CapApril 2016 HB backdating reduced from 6 months to 4 weeksApril 2016 Family premium removed from new HB claimsApril 2017 Removal of HB for under 21’sApril 2017 Welfare support limited to 2 childrenApril 2017 ESA applicants ‘fit for work activity’ paid at JSA rates

*Calderdale timelines not yet known

How will Calderdale MBC respond to these?

•Continue with the Welfare Reform & Financial Resilience Strategic Partnership group•Update on progress via the Welfare Reform & Financial Resilience Partnership Events•Ensure that local people and colleagues are informed as appropriate•Deliver events to target groups – ie. Under 21s •Continue working in partnership and informally consult on plans•Review current CTRS scheme in light of changes

What next and feedback

•Is anything missing from this session that you expected to see?•What further support or information do you need?