Transcript Changes to Benefits

Changes to Benefits
What you need to know
Introduction
• There are lots of changes that are happening
to benefits
• This is because the government wants to save
money
• The government also thinks that some of the
changes will make the benefits system simpler
About this information
• The Government are making lots of changes
to benefits over the next few years
• We have tried to give up to date information,
but things might change so always ask for
advice
• There are some useful contacts at the end of
this guide
Personal Independence
Payment
• This is also known as PIP
• It is a new benefit that will replace Disability
Living Allowance (DLA)
• These changes will start to happen from April
2013, but will take until 2016 to happen for
some people
• Like DLA, there are 2 parts to PIP. There is
money for help with daily living, and money to
help get around
Personal Independence
Payment
• If you get DLA you will have to apply for PIP
• You will be a new test to see if you can get PIP
• Most people will need to meet with an
independent doctor or nurse to find out if
they can get PIP
• If you get DLA, The Department of Work and
Pensions will write to you and ask if you want
to apply for PIP
Universal Credit
• Universal Credit is a new benefit that will
replace lots of other benefits
• It will replace:
• Income Support
• Income related Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income related Employment and Support
Allowance
• Housing Benefit
• Working Tax Credits and Child Tax Credits
Universal Credit
• Universal Credit will be paid once a month for the
month just gone
• People will get their rent money and they will
have to pay their landlord themselves. There may
be ways of getting help with this.
• There will be more ‘testing’ of people’s health or
whether they are looking for work
• These changes start in October and it will take 4
years for everyone to change to the new system
Employment and
Support Allowance (ESA)
• ESA started to replace Incapacity Benefit in
2008. It will be 2014 before everyone has
moved to getting ESA
• Lots of people are being told they should be
able to work. This means they get less money
• You might need to give information to show
that you are not able to work
Employment and Support
Allowance (ESA)
• You may wish to join an ESA Activity or
Support Group.
• An Activity Group is for people to learn new
skills to help them find a job
• A Support group is for people who probably
can’t work yet because of their illness or
disability
• People in these groups will get more money
than other people
Changes to Council Tax
Benefit
• This is being replaced by Local Council Tax
Reduction
• Most people who claim benefits will have to
pay something towards council tax.
• This includes people who used to get all their
council tax paid.
• This will be different in each Borough and
District Council area.
• People of pension age are not affected
Size Criteria (Bedroom Tax)
• From April 2013, people who get Housing Benefit
will have to pay some of their rent themselves if
they have a spare bedroom
• If they have 1 spare bedroom, the Housing
Benefit will be cut by 14% (this means if you get
£100 it would be cut by £14)
• If they have 2 or more spare bedrooms it will be
cut by 25% (this means if you get £100 it would
be cut by £25
• People will have to decide if they can afford to
pay extra, or move somewhere smaller.
Size Criteria (Bedroom Tax)
• This will happen to all tenants in council or
social housing
• Pensioners are not affected
• People who need a bedroom for a carer to
stay overnight will not be affected
• Some help may be available from local
councils. This is called Discretionary Housing
Payments
Social Fund
• Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans were
used to help people in trouble
• These stopped in April 2013
• Northamptonshire County Council has to find
a way to help people in serious need
• But there will be no cash payments or loans
Benefits Cap
• The total amount you can get in benefits will
be ‘capped’ at £350 per week for single people
and £500 per week for families
• This doesn’t affect pensioners, people getting
DLA or some other benefits
• Some help may be available through
‘Discretionary Housing Payments’
• This will happen by September 2013
Information for
Family Carers
• Changes to Council Tax Benefit may mean that
carers get charged more
• The move from DLA to PIP means that
everyone will be ‘re-tested’. If the ‘cared for’
person doesn’t get PIP, this will affect other
things such as Carers Allowance and blue
badges.
• Carers might be affected by the ‘bedroom tax’
Where to get help
• Benefits can be very complicated
• Talk to your support worker if you
need some help
• You can talk to a benefits advisor at
the local Job Centre
• You could go the government website:
www.dwp.gov.uk
Where to get help
• Mencap Direct can provide advice and
information
0808 808 1111
• This is free even if you call from a
mobile phone
• Or you can email:
[email protected]
Where to get help
• Citizens Advice Bureaus can give
information and advice about benefits:
08444 111 444
www.adviceguide.org.uk
• The Northamptonshire CIL can help
01604 588501
• Or you can talk to your local
Community Legal Service
Produced by the
Northamptonshire Learning
Disability Partnership Board
B McConnell
April 2013
Thanks to...
• The information in this guide was
gathered from lots of different
places and organisations, including
The DWP, The Housing and Support
Alliance, United Response, Carers
UK, Inclusion North, South
Northants District Council, Mencap.