Transcript Appeals Reform Projects

Welfare Reform Update
February 2015
Joined up for Jobs Forum
Fiona Boubert
Partnership Manager
DWP
Department for Work & Pensions
1
Universal Credit Update
Universal Credit Rollout
The roll-out so far is based on:
• Offering Universal Credit to those who would otherwise have made a new claim to
Jobseekers Allowance:
– Beginning with claims from single people.
– Extending to couples from end of June 2014.
– Moving onto families with children in November 2014.
– Retaining claimants on Universal Credit even if a change in their circumstances
would have moved them on the another out of work benefit or tax credits.
– Progressively expanding the geographical coverage.
We began rolling out Universal Credit to single people across the country from 16 February
2015 - by spring 2015, 1 in 3 Jobcentres will be delivering Universal Credit.
Department for Work & Pensions
2
Universal Credit Local Rollout Dates
Tranche 1 February – April 2015
9 March 2015
• City of Edinburgh Council - Edinburgh City JCP, High Riggs JCP, Leith JCP and
Wester Hailes JCP
• Borders Council – Eyemouth, Galashiels, Hawick
27 April 2015
• East Lothian Council – Musselburgh Jobcentre Plus
• Midlothian Council – Dalkeith JCP and Penicuik JCP
Tranche 3 September - November 2015
Date TBC
West Lothian Council – Bathgate JCP, Broxburn JCP, Livingston JCP
The last new claims to legacy benefits will be accepted during 2017. Following this the
people on the remaining legacy claims will progressively decline, the Department will
migrate the remaining claims to Universal Credit. Should there be no change in the
labour market outlook or the pace at which claims are migrated, the current business
case assumes for planning purposes the bulk of this will be complete by 2019.
Department for Work & Pensions
3
Universal Credit Eligibility
To claim Universal Credit you must:
• live at your usual address in an area where Universal Credit is available
• not be homeless, in supported or temporary accommodation, nor a homeowner
• be a British citizen with a National Insurance number
• be aged between 18 years and 60 years and six months
• be fit for work
• not have applied for a fitness for work note
• consider yourself/yourselves fit for work
• not be pregnant nor have given birth within the last 15 weeks
• not be entitled to Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance
(ESA), Income Support (IS), Incapacity Benefit (IB), Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA),
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• not be awaiting a decision on a claim for Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Employment and
Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support (IS), Housing Benefit (HB), Child Tax Credit
(CTC) or Working Tax Credit (WTC)
• not be appealing against a decision of non-entitlement to Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA),
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Income Support (IS)
The above also applies to partners in pilot areas where Universal Credit has been
rolled out to couples
Department for Work & Pensions
4
Universal Credit is working
•
Better financial incentives - 65 per cent of people finding Universal Credit a better
financial incentive to work.
•
Doing more to find a job - households on Universal Credit do more to find work –
nearly double the number of hours of job search compared to Jobseekers Allowance.
•
More support to find work - 92 per cent of claimants agreed they were encouraged to
find work, or increase the amount they were working.
•
Working more - those who are on Universal Credit report that they are working more
over a six-month period - 69 per cent under Universal Credit, compared with 65 per
cent under Jobseeker’s Allowance.
•
Easier to understand - people find Universal Credit easier to understand.
•
Better reward for additional work – people consider Universal Credit a better reward
for additional work.
Department for Work & Pensions
5
Universal Support – delivered locally
• Universal Support – delivered locally is the element within Universal Credit that
provides support to those who need additional help in making and maintaining a
claim for Universal Credit
• It is recognised that individual local needs can best be met through an integrated and
localised support service and thus reflects the partnership working between DWP,
local authorities (LAs), Citizens Advice, Credit Unions, social landlords and relevant
registered charities
• This is based on the principles within the Local Support Services Framework
(LSSF) published February 2013 which will help DWP and local partners to plan
the detail of appropriate services and delivery methods.
• Universal Credit Local Support Services Update and Trialling Plan published in
December 2013.This describes how we will work together to test different
arrangements for partnership working, financial management, the effective delivery
of front line services and other specific aspects of the LSSF.
• 11 sites are currently trialling Universal Support focussing on Triage, Digital
Inclusion and Financial Inclusion including Dundee City in Scotland. Edinburgh is
currently trialling an informal pilot focused on ESA claimants
Department for Work & Pensions
6
Personal Budgeting Support – Why?
Support for those that
need it to manage the
changes Universal
Credit brings.
We want to help
people to manage their
own finances
successfully, whether
they are in or out of
work……
Single
payment to
household
Monthly
Payment
Housing
costs direct
to tenant
Department for Work & Pensions
7
Personal Budgeting Support - Overview
Alternative
Payment
Arrangements
Claimants
managing their
money
Money
Advice
Department for Work & Pensions
Financial
Products
8
Alternative Payment Arrangements
• Alternative Payment Arrangements (APAs) are part of the support offering for the minority
of Universal Credit claimants that may struggle to manage initially and include:
• Payment of the housing costs element of Universal Credit directly to the landlord (a
managed payment)
• More frequent payment of Universal Credit to help claimants that may find it difficult to
budget on a monthly basis to start with
• A split payment of Universal Credit might be considered in exceptional cases e.g.
financial abuse where one partner mismanages the Universal Credit award
• Wherever possible, APAs are time-limited and delivered in conjunction with appropriate
budgeting support to help claimants successfully make the transition to the single monthly
Universal Credit payment
• When considering an alternative payment arrangement, a series of factors are considered
to help to decide if one is appropriate or not
• We have also introduced ‘triggers’ for claimants who repeatedly underpay their rent to
review their claim and consider if a managed payment might be appropriate
Department for Work & Pensions
9
APA – consideration factors
Tier One factors – Highly likely / probable need for alternative payment arrangements
Drug / alcohol and / or other addiction problems e.g. gambling
Learning difficulties including problems with literacy and/or numeracy
Severe / multiple debt problems
In Temporary and / or Supported accommodation
Homeless
Domestic violence / abuse
Mental Health Condition
Currently in rent arrears / threat of eviction / repossession
Claimant is young either a 16/17 year old and / or a Care leaver
Families with multiple and complex needs
Tier Two factors - Less likely / possible need for alternative payment arrangements
No bank account
Third party deductions in place (e.g. for fines, utility arrears etc.)
Claimant is a Refugee / asylum seeker
History of rent arrears
Previously homeless and / or in supported accommodation
Other disability (e.g. physical disability, sensory impairment etc.)
Claimant has just left prison
Claimant has just left hospital
Recently bereaved
Language skills (e.g. English not spoken as the ‘first language’).
Ex Service personnel
NEETs - Not in Education, Employment or Training
Department for Work & Pensions
10
Money Advice
Money advice includes:
• Online budgeting tools for claimants who are able to self-help. We have worked closely
with the Money Advice Service to produce a range of products
• Advice services using a mix of face to face and telephony support
• Longer term will be delivered via Universal Support – delivered locally through delivery
partnership agreements
• A Universal Credit personal planner is available on GOV.UK to help claimants
understand the changes under Universal Credit and advice on what they might need to
do to prepare:
https://secureonline.dwp.gov.uk/universal-credit-preparation/
Department for Work & Pensions
11
Financial Products
•
75% of people in employment are paid earnings monthly in arrears. Monthly
payment of Universal Credit will:
 Prepare households for the reality of budgeting on a monthly income.
 Ease the transition into work.
 Make it easier for households to take advantage of cheaper tariffs for essential
costs such as utility bills.
•
The majority of Universal Credit claimants will continue to receive their benefit
through mainstream, transactional bank or building society accounts.
•
HM Treasury have announced that nine banks and building societies have made a
voluntary commitment to improve basic bank accounts by the end of 2015.
•
The Credit Union Expansion Project is investing £38 million into the modernisation
and expansion of credit union services.
•
In addition, plans are being developed so that Universal Credit can be paid into all
types of Credit Union account by spring 2015.
Department for Work & Pensions
12
Payment Advances
• Universal credit payments are issued monthly through the BACS system
• The first payment will be made after the initial Universal Credit calculation period (one
calendar month from the date of claim) + 7 days
• New claimants and those transitioning from legacy benefits may be eligible for an
advance of their indicative award to help them manage during the first assessment
period if they need it
• For a Universal Credit Advance (New Claim) the claimant will be advised at the non
repudiation stage when they will receive their first payment of Universal Credit. If they
indicate that they will be unable to manage financially until their first payment they will
be advised about the facility of a UC Advance and how to apply for one. They would
need to have an underlying entitlement, be in financial need and able to repay the
advance over the next 6 months
• For a Universal Credit Advance (Transitional) the claimant will have to ask for the
advance within one month of moving across to Universal Credit and have been in
receipt of an existing benefit within one month of moving across to Universal Credit.
The financial need eligibility criteria does not apply to a transitional advance
• These Universal Credit advances will provide an interest-free lending facility for
claimants who find it difficult to access mainstream credit, and could offer an alternative
to high cost borrowing
• A claimant can request an advance of up to 50% of their indicative Universal Credit
award
Department for Work & Pensions
13
New Health Assessment Provider
•
We have a vital role to play in supporting people who are out of work due to
health condition or disability.
•
Our aim is to contribute to the reduction in the employment gap between people
with a health condition or disability and the rest of the working-age population; to
help improve the quality of life of those who are unable to work; and to support
the delivery of a high quality service to all claimants.
•
From March 2015, a new provider will be delivering health related assessments,
including Work Capability Assessments, on behalf of the Department for Work
and Pensions.
Child Maintenance Service
14
The existing contract
• Atos Healthcare will be exiting their contract to deliver assessments, including the
Work Capability Assessments at the end of February 2015.
• Personal Independence Payment claims will continue to be delivered by Atos
Healthcare and Capita.
The new contract
• The new provider is Centre for Health and Disability Assessments and the
service they deliver will be called the Health Assessment Advisory Service.
• Centre for Health and Disability Assessments will be operated by MAXIMUS.
• Whilst there are changes to the assessment service provider, there are no
changes to assessment policy and processes which are DWP responsibilities although we are making changes to the way we audit the quality of assessments
Department for Work & Pensions
15
Planned improvements
• Centre for Health and Disability Assessments will also introduce a number of
initiatives, such as expanding the number of medical professionals who specialise
in mental health and understand how fluctuating conditions can affect people’s
everyday lives.
• The new provider, Centre for Health and Disability Assessments, will employ more
Healthcare Professionals to increase capacity, and reduce waiting times. They will
also work with people to help them gather information about their condition that the
assessors should consider and offer practical help to claimants.
• The service will be delivered to a stringent quality approach that will be validated
through the achievement of key quality targets, ensuring that the required quality
standards are achieved, consistently measured and reported upon.
• Centre for Health and Disability Assessments will also ensure that feedback
received as a result of audit activities delivers ongoing quality and improvements to
the customer journey and can be used to support Healthcare Professionals.
Department for Work & Pensions
16
Important messages for claimants
• The changes in assessment service provider from Atos Healthcare to Centre for
Health and Disability Assessments will not affect people’s benefit payments or
any appointments they have.
• It will take some time for old forms and letters to be removed from circulation
entirely but we expect the majority to have been updated by the time the new
service starts in March. If people have a form or letter that still refers to Atos
Healthcare at the time the changes are introduced there is no need to get an
updated version.
• Centre for Health and Disability Assessments will have details of any
appointments that have been booked and arrangements are in place to ensure
that Centre for Health and Disability Assessments has all of the necessary
information transferred to them.
• Any forms that have already been completed and returned will also be passed to
Centre for Health and Disability Assessments.
• Centre for Health and Disability Assessments service will continue to be delivered
from existing DWP assessment centres.
Department for Work & Pensions
17
Other Changes
Migrants Access to Benefits
From 9 February 2015, any existing claim to income-based Jobseekers’ Allowance
(JSA(IB)) made before 1 January 2014 by an European Economic Area (EEA) national
with a right to reside status as a ‘jobseeker’ or ‘retained worker’ will be notified that they
will be subject to a Genuine Prospect of Work (GPoW) assessment in three months time.
New State Pension
On 6 April 2016, the current State Pension scheme will be replaced by a clearer one. This
means people will be able to know from a much younger age how much State Pension
they’re likely to get. It will enable them to plan better for their retirement. Any eligible
person who reaches State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016 will receive the new State
Pension.
DWP have published a State Pension Toolkit with guidance and promotional material, to
help organisations and employers communicate the changes to the State Pension that will
be happening between now and April 2016.
The Toolkit brings together simple and downloadable information across all of the State
Pension changes. We are encouraging organisations such as trade bodies, charities,
private-sector companies and the media to download and use this information to help
explain the changes to their customers or employees.
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/state-pension-toolkit
Department for Work & Pensions
18
Social Media - The Daily Jobseeker
DWP have launched an innovative new online job seeking resource called The Daily
Jobseeker hosted on Tumblr, a popular social media website that makes sharing
materials, such as job search tips easier.
The Daily Jobseeker has been developed to provide support for Jobseeker’s Allowance
and Universal Credit jobseekers in between their reviews with their coach to help them
meet all the job seeking activities they have agreed to do as part of their Claimant
Commitment.
The Daily Jobseeker will be updated every working day with new information in easy to
access bite size chunks. It gives claimants loads of great advice on CV and interview
tips, advice from recruitment experts and employers, as well as useful information about
how Universal Credit will support them into work.
It can also act as a searchable library for work coaches, enabling them to find suitable
articles for their claimants and email links to helpful content.
http://dailyjobseeker.tumblr.com/
Department for Work & Pensions
19
Other Social Media
Twitter:
www.twitter.com@dwpgovuk (National)
www.twitter.com@JCPinEDINBURGH (Edinburgh Jobcentres)
www.twitter.com@RSCFortKinnaird (Recruitment & Skills Centre)
www.twitter.com@JCPEdinburghAirport (Edinburgh Airport Recruitment
Centre)
Facebook:
Facebook.com/DWP (National)
Facebook.com/RecruitmentSkillsCentreFortKinnaird
LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/company/dwp
GovDelivery:
https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKDWP/subscriber/new
Department for Work & Pensions
20