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Dee Solanki Jonathan Chater DWP North London District

Dee Solanki Jonathan Chater DWP North London District. General Welfare Benefit Awareness and Changes 21 st of May 2014 London Councils office. Key Points. Fire and Bomb alarms Tests Fire exits Toilets Refreshments Mobile phones Schedule of the day Handouts. Subjects Covered:.

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Dee Solanki Jonathan Chater DWP North London District

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  1. Dee SolankiJonathan ChaterDWP North London District General Welfare Benefit Awareness and Changes 21st of May 2014 London Councils office

  2. Key Points • Fire and Bomb alarms Tests • Fire exits • Toilets • Refreshments • Mobile phones • Schedule of the day • Handouts

  3. Subjects Covered: • Introduction to welfare benefits • Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) • Employment Support Allowance (ESA) • Access to Work • Carers Allowance (CA) Comfort Break – 15 mins • Universal Credit (UC) • Social Fund Reform (Local Welfare Provision) • Personal Independence Payment (PIP) • AOB Sessionto a close

  4. Who deals with which benefit Pension Centre Pension Credit State Pension Winter Fuel Payments • Jobcentre Plus • Bereavement Payment • ESA • JSA • Income Support • Universal Credit • Disability Benefits Centre • Attendance Allowance • Personal Independence Payment • Disability Living Allowance for Children • Carer’s Allowance Unit • Carer’s Allowance

  5. Job Seekers Allowance

  6. Difference Between Contributions and Income Based JSA Contribution-based JSA • Paid enough Class 1 National Insurance Contributions in the last two tax years. • Can be paid for 182 days (approximately 6 months) • Income or savings don’t usually affect how much a claimant can receive (unless they get money from a part time job or an occupational or private pension. • Having a partner who works would not affect how much a claimant can receive.

  7. Income Based JSA • If, as an employee, not enough National Insurance contributions have been paid, a claimant can apply for income based JSA. • It is means tested so income and savings can affect how much a claimant can receive. • Must have less than £16,000 in savings. • If a claimant has a partner they must both work, on average, less than 24 hours per week (less than 16 hours for individuals).

  8. JSA Conditions of Entitlement To qualify for Jobseekers Allowance a claimant must meet the conditions attached to receiving the benefit. A claimant must: • Be available for employment; • Be actively seeking employment; • Have a current Jobseekers Agreement (or Claimant Commitment); and • Comply with any reasonable conditions that an advisor has requested.

  9. Exceptions to the Requirement to be Immediately Available • Providing a service e.g. community work, acting as a JP or member of an appeal tribunal (paid or unpaid) – must be willing to take up employment on 24 hours notice. • Undertaking voluntary work – must be willing to take up employment on one weeks notice and job interview 48 hours notice. • Caring responsibilities – must be willing to take up employment of at least 16 hrs per week on weeks notice and attend job interview 48 hours notice. • Part-time workers must be willing and able to take up employment immediately following period of notice they are required to give employer. • Caring responsibilities for a child – must be willing and able to take up employment of at least 16 hours per week on being given 28 days notice and attend job interview within one week.

  10. Jobseekers Agreement At the beginning of a claim the advisor will check if there are any doubts about whether a job seeker has satisfied the entitlement conditions and agree a Jobseekers Agreement (JSAG). From December 2013 the JSAG has been replaced by the JSA Claimant Commitment (CC). The CC is used by claimants to detail the steps that they will take to have the best prospects of finding work.

  11. Actively Seeking Employment • The specific steps a claimant is required to do on a weekly basis is recorded on the JSAG (or Claimant Commitment). • Any restrictions on a claimant which have been accepted are also recorded on the JSAG (or Claimant Commitment). • Some claimants may ask someone else to seek work on their behalf or assist them with their efforts to find work – because of a mental or physical condition they cannot be expected to take reasonable steps without help. • Some claimants may have limited skills in English and they too may ask a friend or relative to search for them.

  12. Reasonable Conditions as Required by Work Coach These could include activities such as: • Taking part in a particular employment programme. • Applying for, or accepting, a place on a programme or scheme. • Complying with a job seekers direction.

  13. JCP Offer - Programmes and support available to claimants:- • Flexible Adviser Interventions (JSA, ESA WRAG and lone parents claiming Income Support or ESA WRAG with youngest child aged 3 or 4) • Jobsearch Support • Work preparation support - lone parents (from 16 years), partners & carers • Flexible Support Fund – discretionary payments to help remove barriers to work • Skills Provision inc Skills Conditionality • European Social Fund – Skills Support for the Unemployed / Redundant • Disability Employment Advisers including Work Choice (new / retention) • Mandatory Work Activity (JSA only) • Careers Advice & Skills screening including National Careers Service • Local Non-contracted provision • Help with costs including childcare & replacement care costs (using the flexible support fund) • Low Value provision – to fund specific training requests • Modern apprenticeships (signposting) • Youth Contract Get Britain Working Measures: • Work Clubs • Work Together (Voluntary Work) • Work Experience (some 16/17 year olds, 18-24 from 13 weeks up till starting on the WP and 25+ with no recent work experience) • New Enterprise Allowance Enterprise Clubs • sector based work academies – England and Scotland only Work Programme: North / West London: Ingeus (UK) Ltd, Maximus Employment and Training, Reed in Partnership East / South London:- Seetec, CDG, A4e

  14. Job Seekers Allowance Any Questions

  15. Income Support • To qualify for Income Support you must be all of the following: • between 16 and Pension Credit qualifying age, • pregnant, or a carer, or a lone parent with a child under 5 or, in some cases, unable to work because you’re sick or disabled, • you have no income or a low income working less than 16 hours a week (and your partner works no more than 24 hours a week), • living in England, Scotland and Wales - there are different rules for Northern Ireland, • You can claim Child Tax Credit if you claim Income Support and have children. • Lone Parents claiming Income Support are required to attend Work Focused Interviews at the Jobcentre and those whose youngest child is aged 3 or 4 are required to undertake work related activity as agreed with their Work Coach to prepare for work.

  16. Income Support Any Questions

  17. Employment Support Allowance

  18. Employment Support Allowance (ESA) ESA was introduced in 2008 Replaced Incapacity Benefit, Income Support paid on the grounds of incapacity and Severe Disablement Allowance Support for Claimants whilst they are unable to work due to illnesses and/or disability including financial support and help to prepare for a future return to work Support Group Work Related Activity Group Permitted Work Work Programme JCP Offer

  19. Employment Support Allowance Any Questions

  20. Work Programme

  21. Work Programme • This scheme is designed to assist claimants for a period of up to two years. • Support is tailored to give such support as is considered appropriate and reasonable in the claimant’s circumstances. • This support may include work search support, provision of skills training and work placements.

  22. Work Programme • If a claimant fails to attend or participate in the Work Programme (without good reason), then JSA and National Insurance Credits can be stopped for four or thirteen weeks. • While a claimant is participating in the Work Programme they do not receive any further assistance from Jobcentre Plus (JCP) in terms of extra support with Flexible Support Fund, referrals to training or job opportunities, or any other help. • They are simply required to attend the JCP on a fortnightly basis for signing. If there are doubts in respect of actively seeking or availability there Work Programme provider is contacted before any further action is taken.

  23. Work Programme Eligibility • Mainstream 25 plus claimants are referred after 12 months on JSA. • Mainstream 18-24 claimants are referred after 9 months on JSA. • JSA NEET – any 18 year old who is not in education, employment or training for a 6 months period directly prior to their claim for JSA are referred after 6 months on JSA. • JSA Early Access include claimants who are prison leavers (Day One) those who have claimed JSA 22 months out of the last 24 and those who previously claimed Incapacity Benefits prior to claiming JSA (After three months).

  24. Work Programme – Deferrals and Exemptions • A claimant can be deferred referral to the Work Programme for up to three months. • This can be for a variety of reasons including imminent job start, outcome of an interview still pending, currently on training, etc. • A claimant can also be exempt for a variety of reasons including pregnancy, victim of domestic violence, etc.

  25. Work Programme Any Questions

  26. The New Disputes Process

  27. The New Disputes Process When a decision has been made that a person is not eligible for benefit or that benefit would not be paid for a certain period, a claimant has a number of options, they can: • Ask for an explanation. • Ask for a written statement of reasons for the decision. • Ask for the decision to be looked at again to see if it can be changed (reconsideration). This is an opportunity for a claimant to highlight facts which they think may have been overlooked or they may have some information which affects the decision. • Appeal against the decision.

  28. The New Disputes Process From October 2013 some changes to the process have been introduced, the key changes are: • Mandatory Reconsideration – a claimant must give Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) the opportunity to reconsider a decision before they can make an appeal. They will be issued with a Mandatory Reconsideration Notice (MRN) with a full explanation of the Decision Makers reasoning once this has taken place. • If, after the MRN, a claimant still thinks the decision is wrong and they want to appeal they must lodge their appeal direct with Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and not with DWP. A copy of the MRN must be enclosed with their appeal. All appeals for decisions made on or after 28th Oct 2013 must be lodged directly with HMCTS.

  29. The New Disputes Process Any Questions

  30. Access to Work • Access to Work was introduced in June 1994 • Is a National Programme delivered by Department for Work and Pensions • To help overcome barriers that disabled people come across when moving onto or retaining employment. • Provides a grant to cover additional costs over and above the requirements of making “reasonable adjustments” which an employer is legally obliged to provide under the “Equality Act 2010” • A flexible programme that focuses on the needs of the individual.

  31. Reasonable Adjustments There are 3 main considerations when determining what reasonable adjustments could be put in place for an employee. • Changes to the ways in which things are done in the organisation • Changes to overcome the barriers created by the physical features of the workplace • To provide extra / auxiliary equipment

  32. Benefits of Access to Work • Encourages greater independence • Promotes work as being the best route to inclusion for disabled people • Enables disabled people to work on a more equal basis with non disabled colleagues • Encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people by offering practical help. • Provides advice to disabled people and their employers

  33. EligibilityTypes Of Help

  34. Eligibility Criteria • Have a disability or health condition that has a long term, adverse affect on their ability to carry out their job • Be over 16 years old • Be in, or about to start, paid employment (including self employment) • Live and work in Great Britain • Not be claiming Incapacity Benefit or ESA once they are in work (with the exception of higher permitted work)

  35. Types of Help There are seven main elements within Access to Work: • Special Aids and Equipment (SAE) • Adaptations to Premises and equipment (APE) • Travel to Work (TtW) • Travel in Work (TiW) • Support Worker (SW) • Communication Support at Interview (CSI) • Mental Health Support Service (MHSS)

  36. Mental Health Support Service Support is available for people with mental health conditions who are either: • Going into work • Absent from work as a result of a mental health condition • Finding work difficult as a result of a mental health condition The support available from Access to Work includes: • An assessment of needs • A personalised six month support plan, with detailed steps designed to keep a person in, or help them to return to work • Signposting to relevant intervention and support services This service is provided for Access to Work by Remploy

  37. Examples of Mental Health Support Coping strategies This could cover a range of strategies and will depend on the individual’s job role, their condition and how this impacts their work. For example: • Keeping a mood diary • Using memory aids such as Mind Maps, checklists • Relaxation techniques when under pressure • Developing a Wellbeing Recovery Action Plan • Cognitive Behavioural techniques Reasonable adjustments • Development of Flexible working, phased return, etc. • Putting in place a buddy or mentor • Temporary reduction in targets or reallocation • Additional time to complete certain aspects of job role • Regular formalised 121 meetings to review concerns

  38. Cost SharingFinancial Support

  39. Access to Work Grants The level of grant will depend on: • Whether the applicant is employed or self employed • How long they have been in their job • The type of help required • The size of company they work for Access to Work provides the grant with which to procure the support that is needed, it does not provide the support itself.

  40. Cost Sharing • 0 – 49 attract no cost share • 50 – 249 £500 Threshold and 20% of the costs thereafter • Over 250 £1000 Threshold and 20% of the costs thereafter • Costs above £10,000 will normally be met by Access to Work • If there is a general business benefit a contribution will be sought in addition to any compulsory cost share

  41. Access to WorkOther Programmes We support

  42. Permitted Work • Customers on Permitted Work Higher Level and Supported Permitted Work and Permitted Work PCA Exempt are eligible for Access to Work. • Support will be limited to a maximum of 52 weeks in line with Permitted Work Higher Level time limit. • After a 52 week break, customers can re apply for Access to Work support for a further 52 weeks. • Customers on Permitted Work Lower Level are not eligible.

  43. Access to Work for Work Experience under the Youth Contract • For claimants aged 18 to 24 Years • Resident in Great Britain (England, Scotland or Wales) • All AtW Youth Contract Work Experience applications will be centralised • All AtW Youth Contract Work Experience applications must be made via a Jobcentre Plus Adviser

  44. Self-Arranged Work Experience • Must help the individual move closer to the labour market job • Have a realistic prospect of securing paid employment after the placement has ended. • Can last between 2-8 weeks • All self arranged work experience placements for Jobcentre Plus (JCP) claimants must be arranged in accordance with JCP guidance; non claimants apply direct to Access to Work

  45. Apprenticeships • People serving apprenticeships are eligible for AtW support as they receive a wage and have a contract of employment. • National Minimum Wage rates do not apply to people on apprenticeships. • If the apprentice stays with the same employer when qualified, cost sharing status will remain unchanged for the whole of the AtW period of three years from the beginning of the apprenticeship.

  46. New Enterprise Allowance Programme • Claimants who are in receipt of Job Seeker’s Allowance and who start on the New Enterprise Allowance programme will be able to apply for Access to Work support. • If eligible for Access to Work, support will be available for customer while participating on New Enterprise Allowance and where appropriate, this support will continue when you move into self employment.

  47. Sector Based Work Academies • From 9th December 2013 claimants who start a new sector-based work academy opportunity will be able to apply for Access to Work support for the work-experience element only. • This is available in England & Scotland only • Claimants will be referred to Access to Work by Jobcentreplus Advisors who are arranging the placement. • To be eligible, claimants must, have a disability or health condition that has a long-term negative effect on their ability to do work experience (long-term means lasting or likely to last for at least 12 months), and • be aged 18 or over, • live in England or Scotland and: you • about to start a sector-based work academy work experience placement.

  48. Drive to get more disabled people into mainstream jobs • Supported Internships • Traineeships • Sector-based work academies • Self-Made Work Trials • Work Experience placements

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