Transcript Slide 1
Scott Sanders - Director of Housing The biggest change to the welfare system for over 60 years..... making the benefits and tax credits systems fairer and simpler....... creating the right incentives to get more people into work...... ........protecting the most vulnerable in our society ........delivering fairness to those claiming benefit and to the taxpayer EMPLOYMENT & SUPPORT ALLOWANCE INCOME SUPPORT CHILD TAX CREDIT WORKING TAX U.C. CREDIT Information Exchange Direct Payments Under Occupation Council Tax Discount Scheme Exempt Accommodation Service Charges DLA to PIP Under 35’s in private sector Social Fund Administration Temporary absence Benefit Cap Backdating Benefit DWP Admin communication partnerships making sure everyone who needs to know, knows! creating efficiency, sharing expertise & experience structures staff welfare getting the most out of our staff resources supporting through stressful times training data & systems bringing through new skills and abilities policy & practice changing the way we do things getting an in depth understanding efficiently risk Understanding and managing the scale of the problem • • • • • 1 in 5 over 65 39,000 households 27% live in social rent 70% in social rent on Housing Benefit 1 in 6 have household member with disability • 50% have internet • 4 areas in 10% most deprived in Wales Torfaen • • • • • • 1868 Bron Afon & Charter households 9 communities Phased entry - most able first Bank account First Direct Payment 23 July 2012 Extended until December 2013 • Communication with tenants – Yes! • Communication with DWP admin – No! • Support assessments • Bank Accounts • Exceptions / Alternative Payment Arrangements Tier One factors – Highly likely / probable need for alternative payment • 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 Refugees / 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 Lord Freud announcements Chartered Institute for Housing Conference 27th June 2013 Three levels of protection for RSL’s: • Decisions about whether tenants should receive DP’s will be made in collaboration with RSL’s • If arrears build up to the equivalent of 1 month’s rent the decision to make DP’s will be reviewed • If arrears reach the equivalent of 2 months rent, housing payments will be switched to landlord, or managed payments Lord Freud announcements Chartered Institute for Housing Conference 27th June 2013 Accelerating the rate at which arrears are recovered ......”typically, if a claimant is not repaying other debts we would expect to recoup the rent arrears from tenants hitting the two month trigger point within six to nine months. This will help ensure that landlords’ cash flows are protected”.... £650 repaid in 9 months! 5 NOSP’s 6 switched back Significance of non payment 8.5% rent not received V rent due Staff workload Increasing capacity to retain quality & increase sustainability Staff workload Increasing capacity to retain quality & increase sustainability 7% week 1 9% week 2 48% 36% week 3 week 4 structures skills development getting the best outcomes bringing through new skills and abilities staff welfare communication supporting through stressful times making sure everyone who needs to know, knows! core systems ensuring fit for purpose enhanced analytical software data extraction and analysis learning from profiling Creating greater efficiency A couple A person who is 16+ Two children of the same sex Two children under 10 A carer providing overnight care 14% for 1 bedroom 25% for 2 bedrooms 599 tenants under occupying @ £13.91pw annual shortfall £434,935 43% make full payment 33% make part payment @ 70% 24% make no payment Support Networks Employment Initiatives Community Cohesion Court Service Money Management Debt Advice Jam jar accounts Digital Inclusion Scott Sanders - Director of Housing