Bromley Learning Disability Partnership Board Changes to Benefits Workshop

Bromley Learning Disability Partnership Board Introduction to Workshop Many changes to benefits Some benefits are changing soon – Council Tax and Housing Benefit Guests from Department of Work and Pensions, Housing Associations, Council and Brokerage Today – why benefits are changing, how they are changing, letters you will be receiving and what people should do Benefit

Bromley Learning Disability Partnership Board Introduction to Benefit Changes – Catherine Marshall Why has the Government made these changes? When are these changes happening?

Bromley Learning Disability Partnership Board What Changes are Happening Now Council Tax Housing Benefit Benefit

Bromley Learning Disability Partnership Board What Changes are Going to Happen? Disability Living Allowance Ends Personal Independence Payment Starts DLA PIP

Bromley Learning Disability Partnership Board When Will This Happen? Everyone getting Disability Living Allowance will get a letter soon It says things are changing, but you do not have to do anything yet.

Bromley Learning Disability Partnership Board When Will This Happen? New Claims to PIP – from June 2013 Existing Claims to DLA - from October if you become 16, renew your claim or report a change Everyone else – from October 2015

Bromley Learning Disability Partnership Board What is Universal Credit? It will replace some benefits Why is this being done? Who will it effect? Benefit Cap UC

Bromley Learning Disability Partnership Board When Will This Happen? New Claims – from October 2013 Existing Claims for some benefits - when things change in your life If you would be better off – 2014 Everyone else –

Bromley Learning Disability Partnership Board How will DWP help? Information to people who help and support you Help you directly if you need it

Bromley Learning Disability Partnership Board What do you need to do? Open your letters Ask for help from someone who can be trusted If something changes in your life, check if you need to do something about your benefits

Bromley Learning Disability Partnership Board Changes to Council Tax – Jayne Carpenter What has happened with Council Tax in previous years What is going to happen this year?

Bromley Learning Disability Partnership Board Changes to Housing Benefits – Jayne Carpenter What has happened with Housing Benefits in previous years What is going to happen this year? Benefit

Bromley Learning Disability Partnership Board Letter about Changes to Council Tax - Jayne Carpenter Council Tax letter from Council Who is getting this letter What does it say? What should you do?

Bromley Learning Disability Partnership Board Letter about Changes to Housing Benefit Housing Associations Housing Benefit letter from Housing Association Who is getting this letter? What does it say? What should you do? Benefit

Bromley Learning Disability Partnership Board Letter about Changes to Housing Benefit Jayne Carpenter Housing Benefit letter from Council Who is getting this letter What does it say? What should you do? Benefit

Bromley Learning Disability Partnership Board What do you do if you get one of these letters? Do not ignore it Ask for help from someone who can be trusted

Bromley Learning Disability Partnership Board Where can you get this help? Council – Jayne Carpenter Housing Associations – Housing Association representatives Bromley Mencap – Annette Elliment

Bromley Learning Disability Partnership Board What other letters will be sent out? What they are about Council Tax letters from the Council – Jayne Carpenter Housing Benefits letter from the Council – Jayne Carpenter Housing Benefits letter from Housing Associations – Housing Association Reps Benefit

Bromley Learning Disability Partnership Board What help is there for people affected by the changes? Council – Jayne Carpenter and Colin Lusted Housing Associations – Housing Association Reps

Bromley Learning Disability Partnership Board Group Work What do you think about the appearance of the letter? Is it easy to understand what it is about? Can you find the information about what you need to do? What could be done to make the letter easier to understand?

Bromley Learning Disability Partnership Board Feedback What was good about the letters? What was bad about the letters? What could be done to make the letters easier to understand?

Bromley Learning Disability Partnership Board What can the Partnership Board and Reps do next? Agree some actions