Role of the Welfare Rights Service By Samantha Creary

Structure of Welfare Rights Ian Hubball Bal Bajwa 9 Officers 4 Advisors Sam Creary 7 Officers 5 Advisors Liz Smith

Aims and Objectives Helping the residents of Sandwell Achieving Excellence Improving Lives Independent advice and advocacy Provide holistic income maximisation service – Benefits and debt Influence local authority policies

What We do? Help people claim millions of pound in benefit gains Advise and assist to claim all (30) benefits Complete all relevant forms for clients, also do: –Reconsiderations –Supersession's Represent people at –First Tier –Upper Tier Home visits – vulnerable people Open door service – for those with access Networking and partnership work Provide training to LA Staff strategic and partner organisations. Policy work locally and nationally. Information updates – at all levels Consultations MP/Cllrs Briefings Prevention Work – Rent Arrears Support and supervision of the voluntary sector ADVICE LINE Five days a week

Additional Work Introductory Tenancy Panel Independent Living Fund Charging Policy IAP’s Debt Task Group Promotional Work Regional and national links

Holistic Service Means Complete service to live independently in the community Blue Badges Aides and adaptations Tele - care Energy Extra Macmillan Grant Family Fund Harborne Parish Lands Trust Vulnerable Children/Adults Food Parcel Charities Financial Inclusion

Who do we do it for? Older people People with disabilities (mental health, learning disabilities, etc) Carer Leavers Care Families with children Teenage Parents People with Health Problems Those is low paid work

Why we do it Compliment the Council’s Anti-Poverty Strategy Protect vulnerable groups Contribute to broader strategic frame-work Equalities –Poverty –Health –Ethnicity

Quality Standards Staff trained to level 4 Advice and Guidance –Degree equivalent –Staff with first degree and Masters –All staff Trained in Debt – Consumer Credit Counselling Service Quality Standards –Checked in supervision

Staff Projects Harpal – Bridges Macmillan Louise – Mental Health/Sure Start Leanne – Tax Credit - Childcare element take-up. Nicole – Teenage Pregnancy/Deaf Project Lee – IAPTS & Leaving Care Team Balbir – Mental Health & Sure Start Priti – Health Conditions Raj – Children's Social Care/Extra Care Housing Yvonne RF – West Bromwich TT Kashmir – Smethwick TT Carole – Rowley TT Diana – Oldbury TT Nisar – Tipton TT Fiona – Wednesbury TT Corrin – Smethwick TT

Advisor Locations Kam K – Wednesbury N.O. Kam D – Ford Street N.O. Michelle – Oldbury N.O. Adilla – Oldbury Council House. Derry – Oldbury Council House Diane – Princes End Rob – Blackheath N.O. Rachel – West Bromwich N.O. Harry – Attached to the Arrears Team (Funded SLA)

How do we do it? Advice Line Housing offices Home Visits Partnership work –External funding streams. Leaflets/Events Surgeries Midwives Connexions Batman’s hill Health Professionals Promotional Events – coffee mornings, mums and tot’s

OUR GUARANTEE We will seek to ensure that people are better off having used our service. Often people wrongly assume that thy are not entitled to additional benefits. Our experience is that 8 out of 10 people are under claim.

RESULTS We see around 9,000 people per year Approximately £21 Million Pounds in Additional Benefits 2010/11 –£17 million expected this financial year

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING ANY QUESTIONS