Welfare Reform An Update Jan 30 th. Mary Hurll DWP Partnership Support Manager, Dorset

Transcription

1 Welfare Reform An Update Jan 30 th Mary Hurll DWP Partnership Support Manager, Dorset

2 Welfare Reform The Welfare Reform Act aims to introduce a simpler, fairer benefits system that helps ensure people are better off in work than on benefits. Our reforms will Prepare the long-term unemployed for the world of work Help to ensure people are better off in work than on benefits Ensure people receive a fairer pension and are encouraged to save for retirement Supporting Families to stay together Provide unconditional support for those who need it

3 Welfare Reform We have already begun on this journey Jobseeking support Tailored support through the Work Programme, Universal Jobmatch and 1 billion investment in Youth Contract Greater conditionality Responsibility to actively seek work Benefit Cap & Housing Benefit Cap Benefits no longer greater than average weekly wage or average rents Personal Independence Payment Targeted support, helping disabled people to lead independent lives.

4 Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Benefit provides cash contribution towards the extra costs associated with a long-term health condition or disability Replaces Disability Living Allowance for people of working age (between 16 and 64) Entitlement based upon assessments of impact on ability to carry out daily living and mobility activities Assessments undertaken by Health Professionals employed by external providers Separate rules and processes for people with terminal illness

5 PIP timetable April 2013» New claims taken from people living in Cheshire, Cumbria, Merseyside, North East and North West England June 2013» National new claims start new claims processing extended to rest of the UK (except Northern Ireland) October 2013» From 28 October 2013, we started natural reassessment in Wales, West Midlands, East Midlands and East Anglia January 2014» From 13 January 2014, natural reassessment commenced in Galashiels, Dumfries and Galloway, Motherwell and Edinburgh

6 PIP timetable February 2014» From 3 February 2014, natural reassessment extended further to Harrogate, Carlisle, Lancaster, Darlington and York November 2014» From 17 November we will extend natural reassessment to include DLA claimants living in the Chester, Huddersfield, Liverpool and Manchester postcode areas October 2015» We will begin to invite remaining DLA claimants who were aged between 16 and 64 on the day that PIP was introduced (8 April 2013) to claim PIP

7 Reassessment - Natural October 2013 Those claimants with fixed period DLA awards which are due for renewal Children who are reaching 16 years of age (unless they have been awarded DLA under the Special Rules for terminal illness) Those claimants where there is a report of a change of condition/s. Existing DLA claimants aged who wish to make a PIP claim Once selected for reassessment, claimants will be invited to claim PIP If they do, DLA award will continue until a PIP claim is decided If they don t claim PIP then their DLA claim will end

8 Managed Reassessment October 2015 DWP will begin to invite remaining DLA claimants who were aged between 16 and 64 on the day that PIP was introduced (8 April 2013) to claim PIP We have still to finalise the selection process for these claimants but we are likely to prioritise those claimants who have turned 65 between April 2013 and October 2015 There will be two independent reviews of PIP which will help inform our approach to managed reassessment the first one reporting by the end of Paul Gray appointed to lead first review - Call for evidence on 23 rd June

9 Current Position It is still very early days since the introduction of PIP, things are still bedding in and overall process time is taking longer than expected Current levels of outstanding work on PIP Normal Rules is unacceptable Assessments are taking longer than originally expected We are aware that this isn t the claimant experience the Department wants people to have We are working with assessment providers to reduce backlogs with focus on clearing the oldest cases

10 Performance Improvement We are working closely with both assessment providers to speed up the end-to-end claiming process Both have increased (and continue to increase) numbers of health professionals, audit/admin/telephony staff and assessment centres introduced changes to the IT tools that support assessment and report completion Implemented new guidance from the Department designed to increase the proportion of cases assessed by a review of paper evidence and reduce the assessment duration We have increased staffing resources on the Department s PIP processing teams

11 Performance Improvements We made improvements to the processes for special rules for terminally ill people as a priority. This includes introduced a dedicated phone service introduced an electronic (PDF) version of the DS1500 which will enable health care professionals to securely and quickly the form to the Department. We are running a pilot with Macmillan to assess whether making additional enhancements to the claim process may enable their staff to submit a claim more quickly, without disadvantaging the claimant

12 Welfare Reform Universal Credit is at the heart of these reforms. It aims to simplify the benefits system and help and ensure people are better off in work than on benefits while providing support for those who need it

13 Universal Credit - it s all about work Universal Credit aims to reward work. No 16 hour rule and no limits on the number of hours someone can work. The Universal Credit payment only reduces gradually as their take home pay increases so claimants won t lose all their benefits at once if they are on a low income Universal Credit will encourage a new type of relationship with claimants. Work Coaches will help claimants to become more independent by supporting them in their worksearch activities. They will help claimants plan and focus their jobsearch as well as set them actions that give them the best chance of finding work Universal Credit aims to support jobseekers through the Claimant Commitment to raise their expectations of what they can achieve, and to encourage responsibility. Those who are fit and ready for work will be expected to look for a job on a full time basis dependent on circumstances Universal Credit claimants are expected to use Universal Jobmatch, an intelligent job matching service that helps employers to get the best fit for the jobs that they have on offer

14 Delivering the policy - how Universal Credit is rolling out to eligible claimants Universal Credit rollout began on 29 April 2013 in Ashtonunder-Lyne in Greater Manchester From 30 June 2014, we began taking new claims for Universal Credit from couples From 24 November 2014, we began to expand Universal Credit to families Universal Credit will be rolled out to all jobcentres and local authorities across the country from early 2015 This will ensure Universal Credit is established across Great Britain with new claims to legacy benefits closed from 2016 with migration to follow thereafter

15 Claimant Commitment Claimant Commitment Individually tailored to take account of someone s circumstances Claimant Work Coach Outlines what a claimant must do in return for their benefit Claimant Create Accept Work Requirements Work Sets out clearly the consequences of not meeting Claimant Commitment Claimant Commitment reviewed on a regular basis

16 Eligibility Claimant goes to GOV.UK to check latest position as Universal Credit gradually expands

17 Claimant Journey Seek Work Make Claim for Universal Credit Provide personal Details Submit Claim Confirmation of interview Interview Award notification and payment Organise Finances Confirmation of starting work

18 Support for claimants Local Partners Local Area LA Services National Partners Support for claimants with complex needs Budgeting Work Online Housing Jobcentre Plus

19 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

20 Who do we think may require Universal Support delivered locally? Claimants with mental health issues Geographically isolated people Multi Agency Public Protections Agreement (MAPPA) restricted claimants Prison leavers People with English language limitations Claimants with learning difficulties People with Financial Inclusion or severe debt issues Domestic Violence victims People with literacy/numeracy difficulties Entitled 16/17 year olds People with physical and/or sensory disabilities Those under the supervision of the Troubled Families Initiative Non EEA citizens including refugees Homeless people People with addiction problems (drugs/alcohol/gambl ing) Care leavers

21 Personal Budgeting Support - Overview Alternative Payment Arrangements Claimants managing their money Money advice Financial products

22 Communications What we ve GOV.UK done so far Claimant Leaflet Partner Toolkit Infographics Videos Employer video Universal Credit in the hospitality industry Judi Leavor, Center Parcs

23 Universal Support delivered locally Local Delivery Partners: What we are hoping to achieve The real purpose of the partnerships approach is joined up coherent claimant journey for claimants with complex needs, from benefits dependency to independence and, where appropriate, work

24 Useful Links Universal Credit pages on GOV.UK Jobcentre offices where eligible claimants can make a claim for Universal Credit The Claimant Commitment The Local Support Services Framework UC Local Support Services Update and Trialling Plan published in December Operating Guidance for PBS & APAs Budgeting help and support

25 New State pension Will be introduced from 6 April qualifying years NI contributions Will need minimum10 qualifying years No inheritance from spouse (one exception) No lump sum on deferral All those of pension age before 6 April 2016 are unaffected.

26 Any questions? Please see the GOV.UK website for detailed information on DWP benefits.