February 2016 Eileen Broderick-IMAX Benefits & Young People

Objectives Have an understanding of how Welfare Reform will impact on Young People Know what the Council is doing to help residents with the changes

Welfare Reform past……….. Transfer from incapacity benefit to employment and support allowance Transfer from disability living allowance to personal independence allowance Lots of changes to housing benefit- Local Housing Allowance Cap, bedroom tax, benefit cap, shared accommodation rate for under 35yr olds, increased non dependant charge Universal Credit introduced for single jobless people

Welfare Reform changes for the future Social rents capped to Local Housing Allowance Rate (April 2016) Removal of housing benefit for 18-21yr olds (April 2017)

Young People and Work To help young people move into and get on in work, the Budget will introduce a new Youth Obligation for 18 to 21 year olds on Universal Credit. From April 2017, young people will participate in an intensive regime of support from day 1 of their benefit claim, and after 6 months they will be expected to apply for an apprenticeship or traineeship, gain work-based skills, or go on a mandatory work placement to give them the skills they need to move into sustainable employment.

Help available Discretionary Housing Payments IMAX team