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Welfare Reform: The impact on local communities

Welfare Reform: The impact on local communities . Samuel Scharf. Contents. Joining the dots of Welfare Reform Impact of reforms on local areas and communities Responsibilities of, and pressures on, local authorities Solutions. Local provision: welfare assistance .

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Welfare Reform: The impact on local communities

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  1. Welfare Reform: The impact on local communities Samuel Scharf

  2. Contents • Joining the dots of Welfare Reform • Impact of reforms on local areas and communities • Responsibilities of, and pressures on, local authorities • Solutions

  3. Local provision: welfare assistance • Welfare Reform Act abolishes, from April 2013: • - Community care grants (CCGs) • - Crisis loans (CLs) for living expenses • Previously centrally held Council Tax rebate budget will be added un-ring fenced to LA grant (-10%) with additional policy pressures • LAs expected to make local arrangements to meet need • Housing benefit changes

  4. Managing effects of benefit changes • Total benefit cap • Families look to move to cheaper accommodation (or not as the case appears to be) • Risks of overcrowding, HMOs (Houses of Multiple Occupation) and homelessness, increases pressure on housing and homelessness depts, children’s and adult services. • Movement between areas risks employment problems, less social integration and child protection issues. Increases pressure on schools, health services.

  5. Implications for local authorities Various levels of pressures and responsibilities: 1. Local provision of formerly national schemes 2. Managing effects of benefit changes on local communities 3. Involvement in local delivery of national Universal Credit? 4. Others – PIP (Personal Independence Payments) /DLA (Disability Living Allowance), Re-setting local entitlement criteria to discounted services

  6. Pressures that will impact communities • New administration of these support functions – money to existing services with high entitlement thresholds • Support in kind versus support in cash • No rights to review – pressure on your complaints process • Not ring fenced - potential movement of money to statutory services • Timing • Impact if there is a local residence test

  7. Simpified? Income related JSA Income related ESA Income Support (including SMI) Working Tax Credits Child Tax Credits Housing Benefit UniversalCredit Personal Independence Payment Disability LivingAllowance Pension Credit, Child Benefit, Carer’s Allowance (will remain) Council Tax Benefit Contributory JSA and ESA (will remain)

  8. Tapering

  9. Role in delivery of Universal Credit • Delivery of UC is “digital by default” but face to face and telephone access for those who need it • Potential role of LA s, RSLs (Responsible Social Landlords) and third sector organisations in delivery: • help access online account • face to face / telephone contact • budgeting support and financial capability

  10. Top 5 challenges • Social Services assessments (new proxies), costs and passported services • Empowerment or dependency, what is the balance? • Individual and family capability and capacity to cope • Digital by default – what does this look like? Impact? • Coping with increase in demand both on advice services as well as high cost lenders and unscrupulous traders.

  11. Communication

  12. Solutions • Accountability and transparency • Clear information channels to citizens, need for real engagement and use of appropriate technology • Working across teams in LAs, Job Centre Plus, with CABx and others to explain changes (Local Delivery Alliances) • Common issues that joint thinking could provide some solutions • New partnerships. E.g. Banks, employers.

  13. Welfare Reform: The impact on local communities Samuel Scharf e: samuel.scharf@citizensadvice.org.uk tw: @cabpartnerup

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