Mitigating Impact of LHA Cap

Slides:



Advertisements
Similar presentations
Welfare Reform From Poverty to Financial Inclusion 17 th October 2012.
Advertisements

Wincred Welfare Reforms & Financial Inclusion. Background Welfare Reform Act 2012 gained Royal Assent 8 th March 2012 Government purpose is to –Reduce.
City of Edinburgh Council Welfare Rights Service1 Local Housing Allowance NAWRA 14 th September 2007 EDINBURGH Nancy Fowler Welfare Rights Officer.
Benefit Service Veronica Dewsbury. Introduction The Benefits Service administers the following: Housing Benefit Council Tax Benefit Discretionary Housing.
Council for the Homeless NI Welfare Reform Information Session.
Housing Benefit changes from April 2013 Janine Cox, Revenues & Benefits manager.
Welfare Reform Changes Karen Wenlock Revenues & Benefits Manager.
13 March 2013 What is happening to welfare? national policy - local impacts.
Local Housing Allowance – the future Richard Burrows Lettings Research Manager Rent Officer Functions.
Proposed Welfare Reform Changes The effect on Service Users of the June 2010 Budget proposals 1.
Welfare Reforms An overview of the benefits affected and potential impact.
Jobcentre Plus Get Britain Working Jobcentre Plus support Get Britain Working measures Work experience Sector-based work academies Flexible Support Fund.
Overview Changes that affect housing in Hackney Cathy Murphy HAF.
Sharing Solutions Crisis Housing Coach Better supporting young people into shared accommodation.
Universal Credit Overview- Wrexham Poverty Event
Welfare Reforms Ursula Barrington. Welfare reforms On 16 February 2011 the Welfare Reform Bill was introduced to Parliament. The Bill legislates for the.
The role of Derby Advice Welfare RightsMoney Advice Benefit checks Help with claim packs Help with problems with the DWP Help with challenging decisions.
The National Rollout of Local Housing Allowance. LHA - Contents Why LHA was introduced Pilot Stage Local Housing Allowance? Tenancies affected by Local.
Mark Harris Senior Group Partnership Manager London and Home Counties London Employment and Skills Policy Network 28 th October 2011.
Assessing the impact of Welfare Reform Robert McGregor, January 2014.
16 January 2013 Welfare reform: national policy ~ local impact.
Financial Inclusion Forum September 2013 Welfare Reform Update.
Changes to Housing Benefit Alanna Sokolski Housing Options Service.
Jan11/HS002 Benefit legislative changes effective from April 2011 LHA and JSA decreases and non dependant deductions increases The potential impact upon.
1 Department for Work & Pensions Scottish Employability and Skills Conference 18 th September 2013 Jim McGonigle District Manager East and South East Scotland.
Housing and Council Tax Benefit changes Janine Cox, Revenues & Benefits manager.
Housing Options Hub Event 21 March 2013 Julie Hunter.
Welfare Reforms Update Maxine Stavrianakos - Unit Manager, Income Management.
South Ribble Borough Council Benefits Service Means-Test (1) Applicable Amounts (2) Premiums (3) Income (4) Disregards.
Universal Credit Presentation 1 st September 2015.
Housing Benefit Reform – the national context Stephen Sandham Head of Transitions and Support Housing Options and Support Division.
Greater Manchester Employment and Skills Reform Our ambition is to create an integrated employment and skills eco-system, which has the individual and.
Impacts of welfare changes in Camden May Housing Benefit Overview There has been an 24% decrease in new claims since 2011/12. Housing Benefit.
Impact of recent benefit changes.. Turn2us is a national charity helping people in financial hardship to gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants.
Welfare Changes from the Summer 2015 Budget Elliott Stephenson Welfare Manager Benefits and Money Action Team.
Impacts of welfare changes in Camden October 2015 (HB ref date 1 Oct-15)
Welfare Reform Working Group 26 th September 2012.
Impacts of welfare changes in Camden 6 August 2014.
Benefits Update Mark Griffiths Benefits Manager Amber Valley Borough Council.
LHA Implementation 2007 The Rent Service and Local Housing Allowance.
Housing Benefit Changes April 2013 onwards Mick Lear Benefit Service.
Housing Benefit Direct Payments Alternative Payments under UC December 2015.
Welcome Presentation To West Midlands Region Housing Learning and Improvement Network Presenters Raj Shroff – Head of Supported Housing for Midland Heart.
Scottish Employability Services Support
The threat behind the incentive
Welfare Reform Bill February 2011
Cardiff Partnership Board June 2012
Size and Scope Duration Commences 1 Mar 2016
H.A.P. Housing Assistance Payment
Bolton Council Welfare Reform – Impact & Mitigation
Changes to the welfare system What they mean for young people
Western Bay RCC Development Day 24th May 2016
Universal Credit Digital Service Supporting claimant needs.
Our Approach to New Tenancies
Universal Credit Digital Service 14 March 2017
Personal Support Package Presentation to Synchronize group
Taking reasonable steps:
Background Solihull Community Housing (SCH) delivers the housing management, homelessness and housing advice service on behalf of the Council Demand for.
Overview of Welfare Reform and UC Rollout
Universal Credit in Dorset – Lets Talk!
Universal Credit Full Service What to expect.
12 June Welfare Reform and the Social Housing Charter
Universal Credit What it has meant for residents and social housing tenants in Southwark so far….and what we think it will mean in future London Funders,
Social Security Update
Impact of Universal Credit
Preparing for Universal Credit: lessons from the front-line".
Housing.
New Enterprise Allowance
Money Advice Fastrack Funding February 2019 Student Services
Southwark Direct Payment Demonstrator Project 31st July 2013
Presentation transcript:

Mitigating Impact of LHA Cap Hazel Waddington Principal Income Services Manager

Introduction Local Housing Allowance Cap Mitigations including our integrating employment proposals 18-21 year olds

Local Housing Allowance Cap Benefit Status Number of Tenancies Average Weekly rent Total LHA LHA Shortfall Full HB 132 £12,604.83 £6424.44 £6,180.39 Partial HB 37 £3,311.86 £1800.79 £1,511.07 Self payer 135 £11,812.22 £0.00 Grand Total 304 £27,728.91 £8225.23 £7,691.46 The above table shows the number of allocations to single under 35’s between January 2015 and January 2016 Based on shared accommodation rate of £48.67 per week This equates to £400k per annum across just 169 households

U35 Pilot Initial Findings Initial lists of cohorts revealed approximately 50% cohort are far removed from the work place due to complex lifestyle/needs 35% of the cohort were moved into work or training within the 6 months 10% of those in work were already in full time well paid employment Sign ups carried out in the UCAN community setting generated better engagement with services Identified a cohort of young people who are better off financially on benefits, particularly those in receipt of ESA New economy model currently being used to analyse data For the 50% it was identified that personal support for a longer period is required and this group may always struggle to move into paid employment at a level that would meet rental liability For those who are better off on benefits - Incentives to flip this are being explored by the DWP

Mitigations Growth of 2 x Money Advisors posts 2 x Digital Officers to support self service and online benefit claims The BH website is being developed for all key changes and to add further information for applicants A mailshot was issued to all applicants under 35 and on the housing register in July 2016 Affordability assessments for all applicants have been updated to include specific questions and guidance for the under 35s As from 1/4/17 tenancies will only be awarded to single under 35’s on the basis on a risk assessment process that will consider a number of factors that including; The age of the applicant at 1/4/18 The immediate level of housing need The potential for a change of status by 1/4/18 Engagement with initiatives put in place by BH and its partners to move into employability Other rehousing options

Mitigations Revenue Services being restructured to support preventative rather than enforcement approach Hardship fund criteria is being expanded to support customers affected by cuts Exploring whether our supported tenancies can be classified as exempt Greater use of Landlord Services (Lease Management) to procure Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) from the private rented sector Trialling a BH HMO offer Provision of a “house mate matching” service to identify applicants who might be interests in sharing Exploring pre-tenancy engagement conditions and specific tenancy agreement conditions

Unemployment in Bolton In September 2016, Bolton had 5,380 Job Seekers Allowance Claimants and out of work Universal Credit Claimants. This is a rate of 3.1% and the highest rate in Greater Manchester.

Pre-Tenancy to Work Model Pre-tenancy assessment Provide a home Stabilise Tenancy Promote training & employment Provide in work support 5 Step Approach Pre-tenancy assessment to identify household needs and potential risks to tenancy We will provide a home We will work to stabilise tenancies to ensure the best basis for further engagement We will actively promote training and employment for our households

Promote training and employment Engaging with our tenants in a dialogue about work at every appropriate opportunity Throughout rent arrears process especially for those on job seeking benefits Currently piloting engagement with work club to prevent possession proceedings By including E&T responsibilities in all front facing Customer and Community job descriptions By monitoring performance against specific employment and training KPIs Promoting BH tenants within the wider employment market by engaging with local employers to understand demand and skills gap During each contact with housing management functions we will identify customers who have the potential to move into training or paid employment. In recognition of the different stages of work readiness our customers are at, we will provide a range of opportunities for them to improve their employment potential.

In Work Support In work benefit assessments via advice line, drop in or appointment Using hardship fund to incentivise work for those who aren’t necessarily immediately better off Assistance with budgeting Helping with employee/employer relationships Providing advice and support on problems with wages and contracts In work support officer to engage with employers about further opportunities for our other customers Getting people into paid employment used to be the end of the process for us and was our key objective We now understand that keeping people in work can present similar challenges and that people are likely to stay in work once they have been in paid employment for 6 months or more BH has secured funding to create an “In work” support officer. Money advice service to support this offer by creating package for in work money and benefit advice.

18-21 Year Olds Introducing Youth Obligation for people aged 18 to 21 making a new claim for Universal Credit For those geographical areas with full Universal Credit Service this will be from April 2017 Bolton does not have full Universal Credit service so we will be affected anytime from May 2017 to September 2018 Young people making the claims will be expected to participate in an “intensive regime of support” from day 1 of their benefit claim After 6 months they will be expected to: apply for an apprenticeship or traineeship gain work-based skills (daily community work) or go on a mandatory work placement in order to continue to qualify for the housing element which covers their rent There are currently no guidelines of hours they are required to work

18-21 Year Olds Certain categories of young people will be exempt from these changes: Vulnerable young people; No current information on how vulnerability will be defined or any details about supported housing Those who may not be able to return home to live with their parents Those who have been in work for 6 months prior to making a claim - currently no guidelines on how many hours the claimant needs to have worked to fall under this category Claimants on ESA (Support Group), or on Income Support and a lone parent, are likely to be exempt It is likely that those in the Work Related Activity Group (WRAG) of ESA will also be exempt but this is not confirmed It is not clear whether those in the Assessment Group of ESA will be exempt at this stage Work Capability Assessment You must have a Work Capability Assessment while your ESA claim is being assessed. This is to see to what extent your illness or disability affects your ability to work. You’ll then be placed in one of 2 groups if you’re entitled to ESA: work-related activity group, where you’ll have regular interviews with an adviser support group, where you don’t have interviews Assessment group – This is the group that claimants go into once they have made the claim whilst they are being assessed whether they should go into the Support Group or WRAG for 13 weeks but due to backlogs and medical assessments etc it could be longer. The claimant has to provide sicknotes continuously for that period.