WELFARE REFORM Gavin Munro Finance Policy and Development Team Support Agencies 2013/14 Total contacts: 45,381* Benefit Gains: £13.2m Support agencies: Highland Council & Citizen Advice Bureau. *Please note: total number of contacts includes all enquiries to agencies for advice, not solely Welfare/Money advice Total Debt: £19.2m Impact in the Highlands *Approx. figure Benefit Cap Personal Independence Payment New Claims? 22* Under Occupancy 2,500* Universal Credit Single/Couple 600 new claims* Welfare Reform Measures Foodbanks Adults:1,908* Children: 570* Impact in the Highlands Still to come…. *Approx. figures Universal Credit Families end of 2014 Roll out…. *12,000 Existing benefits Migration PIP Re-assessment *8,000 existing DLA claimants Mitigating the impact in the Highlands • 14/15 Paid & Committed £1.9m • Money Advice • Income Maximisation • Citizens Advice Bureau • 14/15 Paid £400k Discretionary Housing Payments Scottish Welfare Fund Advice and Support Highland Council Projects •Reaching the Unreached •Making Advice Work Project* •CIM-MA/NHS Pilot *Joint project with Highland Social Housing Mitigating the impact in the Highlands • • • Reaching the Unreached This is a Highland Council Money Advice team project aimed at assisting tenants to substantially reduce their rent arrears and come to an affordable repayment plan. The Highland Council Money Advisers are able to assist clients to maximise their income and examine if they are eligible for any backdated benefits. They work very closely with clients to help them get their other debts such as ‘doorstep’ and ‘payday’ lending under control; giving clients time to stabilise their finances. Making Advice Work Project A joint project by eleven partner organisations across Highland. The project which will run to March 2015 and aims to provide a comprehensive package of support and advice to those social housing tenants directly affected by the Under-occupancy Criteria. Through the project tenants are able to access a holistic service encompassing debt management, financial advice, advice and information on employability and housing options, and assistance in accessing related online services. Highland Council Income Maximisation/Money Advice teams/NHS Pilot Highland Council Income Maximisation/Money Advice teams and Ross-shire NHS Midwifery Team are currently undertaking a pilot scheme with a key objective to reduce financial inequality / poverty in pregnancy & early years by providing opportunity to access income maximisation and money advice. Customer Income Maximisation Team  Advise about all the benefits and other entitlements that are available  Undertake benefit checks to ensure all entitled benefits are been claimed  Provide assistance to complete relevant forms  Offer advice and support to appeal against a decision when an application for benefit is turned down  May accompany and provide representation at Tribunal Hearings Benefit Advice Representation at Tribunals Appeal against decisions Benefit Checks Form completion Money Advice Team  Work with Customer Income Maximisation to check customer receiving all entitled income  Advise on what creditors can and can’t do  Discuss available options to help deal with debt  Contact and negotiate with creditors, taking the stress out of dealing with bills.  Provide advice and when appropriate, representation, where creditors are taking court action Income check Representation at Court Negotiate with creditors Creditor information Debt Advice