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SHEN Forum 27 March 2012

DWP Update Aileen Barclay Group Devolution and Welfare Reform Manager Scotland Sharon Telford Partnership and Devolution Manager. SHEN Forum 27 March 2012. Introduces the most fundamental reforms to the social security system for 60 years.

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SHEN Forum 27 March 2012

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  1. DWPUpdateAileen BarclayGroup Devolution and Welfare Reform Manager Scotland Sharon TelfordPartnership and Devolution Manager SHEN Forum 27 March 2012

  2. Introduces the most fundamental reforms to the social security system for 60 years. Aims for a simpler, fairer benefits system & to ensure work pays Universal Credit Personal Independence Payment ESA time-limiting Benefits cap Fraud & error penalties IID B amendments Social Fund changes Housing Benefit changes Welfare Reform Act - overview

  3. National numbers for: Crisis loans - 0800 032 7952 Social Fund - 0845 603 6967 Maternity Allowance - 0845 608 8610 Performance update: 35.7 million calls answered (April-December) Over 86% of all calls answered Over 74% resolved first time. Continue to seek improvements in performance Telephony

  4. JSA Online has been updated, making it easier for people to find and claim on Directgov Digital champions are supporting the digital agenda in each Jobcentre, making them a great point of contact for all external stakeholders. Working closely with digital partners such as UK Online on events, training and access to the internet Aim is that digital becomes main channel to claim benefit and search for jobs. Leading to Universal Credit being digital by default Over 1.4 million people have claimed JSA online (26% of all JSA claims were made online in December 2011) Over 1.6million visits to the online Benefit Adviser Service to November 2011 The job search tool continues to be the most popular part of Directgov with an average of over 3million visits per week in January 2012 And of course the DWP website holds lots of information on a whole host of topics for advisers, intermediaries, partners and providers. Digital services

  5. 12 month limit for contribution-based ESA in the work related activity group. Support Group not affected. Makes ESA more consistent with JSA which has 6 month limit on contribution-based entitlement. Comes into effect from 30 April 2012. About 60% of those claiming ESA end claim within a year. Estimate 60% of those affected by time-limiting will be eligible for income-related ESA – rest can claim on credits-only basis to maintain NI record and access Work Programme. Estimate 90% of those affected by change to ESA Youth will be able to claim income-related ESA. ESA changes

  6. DLA reform – Personal Independence Payment overview • Replaces DLA with a new benefit to be introduced for eligible working age people (16-64) called the Personal Independence Payment • Retains the key features of DLA - non means tested and non taxable • More objective assessment process, including a face to face consultation with a health professional for most claimants • Public consultation regarding new assessment criteria runs to end April 2012 • Consultation on regulations and detailed design to be launched spring 2012

  7. DLA reform – Personal Independence Payment timetable • Personal Independence Payment is being introduced in stages: • April 2013: Initially take a few thousand new claims in areas including Merseyside, North West England, Cumbria, Cheshire and North East England • During this period new claimants in all other parts of the country will continue to claim Disability Living Allowance as now • June 2013: We plan to take new claims from all claimants in all parts of the country • Oct 2013: Begin to reassess about 30,000 mostly randomly selected existing DLA cases • Jan 2014: Full national reassessment likely to begin • March 2016: All current DLA claimants of working age will have been contacted about claiming Personal Independence Payment

  8. Will replace a range of working age benefits with a single payment that provides both in-work and out-of-work support Designed to ensure that work will always pay Expect Universal Credit to begin in 2013, with existing claims transferred to the new system by the end of 2017 Tougher sanctions regime will be introduced ahead of Universal Credit Aspects of the Social Fund will be incorporated within Universal Credit while others will be delivered by Local Authorities in England and devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales Universal Credit - overview

  9. Preparatory tests this year. Expect Universal Credit to begin in 2013. 2014-15 – begin moving those existing claimants with most to gain from being on UC. 2016 & 2017 – transfer existing claims to UC. Migration based on local authority boundary. Tougher sanctions regime will be introduced ahead of Universal Credit Aspects of the Social Fund will be incorporated within Universal Credit while others will be delivered by Local Authorities in England and devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales Universal Credit - timetable

  10. New benefit rates effective from w/c 9 April for working age benefits and pensions. Disability and carers benefits rise from May. Details of new benefit rates currently being issued to individuals. Most benefits rise by 5.2% in line with Consumer Prices Index. The standard minimum guarantee in Pension Credit will increase by 3.9%, a proposed increase of £5.35 to a new single rate of £142.70 per week, or an increase of £8.20 to a new rate of £217.90 for couples. The Savings Credit threshold will rise to £111.10 per week or £177.20 per week for couples. Benefit rates

  11. Benefit Cap • Limits benefit payments to a household to no more than average household earnings – currently equivalent to a gross salary of £35,000. • Cap excludes one-off payments and non-cash benefits. • Exemptions for households including recipients of Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance or Constant Attendance Allowance. • War widows/widowers and those in ESA Support Group also exempt. • Those entitled to Working Tax Credit exempt. • Effective from April 2013 – already contacting individual claimants in those households likely to be affected offering support to find work.

  12. Jobcentre Plus support Work Programme Youth Contract DWPUpdateSharon TelfordPartnership and Devolution Manager

  13. Greater focus on diagnosing customers’ individual needs More flexibility and responsibility for Jobcentre advisers Increased flexibility for local managers Raised expectations of customer commitment to finding work Extending range of digital services Clear focus on getting customers off benefits and into jobs Option for advisers to mandate suitable customers toMandatory Work Activity New sanctions regime to be introduced Jobcentre Plus support

  14. Work Programme is now available nation-wide Local provision designed & delivered by providers Radical change to payment by results and performance measures Will help people with a wide variety of needs Forms a coherent package complementing Jobcentre Plus support and Get Britain Working measures Work Programme

  15. Work Programme eligibility - JSA

  16. Work Programme eligibility – other benefit groups

  17. The Youth Contract - Overview • On 25 November 2011 the Government announced the Youth Contract for 16 to 24 year olds • The Youth Contract will be made up of several elements - most of them building on the support already in place • Elements will be introduced from April 2012 • Objectives of the Youth Contract are: • To ensure that every young person who needs it is offered support to move them closer to, or into work (increasing benefit off-flow rates); • To give young people the skills to compete in a global economy (getting them into work sooner); • To encourage employers to inspire young people and recruit them into real, long term jobs (increasing the average time in employment); • To promote claimants’ personal responsibility by introducing increased activity for those who do not engage with other support

  18. Offer a Work Experience or sector based work academy place for every unemployed 18-24 year old who wants one (after they have been on JSA for 3 months) before they enter the Work Programme Extra Jobcentre Plus support for all 18-24 year olds Wage incentives to make it easier for employers to take on young people Working with Scottish Government and SDS to align with Opportunities for All District Managers working with local partners to enhance support available Youth Contract

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